


STANDING RULES 



CONDUCTING BUSINESS 



IN THE 



SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 



COMMENCEMENT OF DAILY SESSIONS. 

1. The Presiding Officer having taken the chair, and 

a quorum being present, the journal of the preceding day 
shall be read, to the end that any mistake. may be corrected 
that shall be made in the entries. 

[16 April, 1789— March 25, 1868. 

A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Senators duly 
chosen and sworn. 

[4 May, 1864— March 25, 1868. 
BUSINESS NOT TO BE INTERRUPTED. 

2. No Senator shall speak to another, or otherwise 

interrupt the business of the Senate, or read any newspaper, 
while the journals or public papers are reading, or when 
any Senator is speaking in any debate. 

[16 April, 1789—14 Feh., 1828— March 25, 1868. 
RULES IN SPEAKING OR DEBATE. 

3. Every Senator, when he speaks, shall address the 

Chair, standing in his place, and when he has finished shall 
sit down. 

[16 April, 1789— March 25, 1868. 



LC Control Number 



tmp96 027150 



4 RULES OF THE SENATE. 

4. No Senator shall speak more than twice, in any 

one debate, on the same day, without leave of the Senate, 
which question shall be decided without debate. 

[16 April, 1789— March 25, 1868. 

5. When two Senators rise at the same time, the 

Presiding Officer shall name the person to speak; but in all 
cases the Senator who shall rise first and address the Chair 
shall speak first. 

[16 April, 1789—14 Feb., 1828— March 25, 1868. 



CALLS TO ORDER AND APPEALS. 

6. If any Senator, in speaking or otherwise, trans- 
gress the rules of the Senate, the Presiding Officer shall, or 
any Senator may, call to order; and when a Senator shall 
be called to order by the Presiding Officer, or a Senator, he 
shall sit down, and shall not proceed without leave of the 
Senate. And every question of order shall be decided by 
the Presiding Officer, without debate, subject to an appeal 
to the Senate; and the Presiding Officer may call for the 
sense of the Senate on any question of order. But when 
an appeal shall be taken from the decision of the Presiding 
Officer, any subsequent question of order, which may arise 
before the decision of such appeal by the Senate, shall be 
decided by the Presiding Officer without debate, and every 
appeal therefrom shall also be decided at once, and with- 
out debate. 

[16 April, 1789—14 Feb., 1828—26 June. 1856— March 25, 1868. 
EXCEPTIONABLE WORDS. 

7. If a Senator be called to order by another for words 

spoken, the exceptionable words shall immediately be taken 
down in writing, that the Presiding Officer may be better 
able to judge of the matter. 

[16 April, 1789— March 25, 1868. 



RULES OF THE SENATE. 



ABSENT SENATORS MAY BE SENT FOR. 

8. No Senator shall absent himself from the service 

of the Senate, without leave of the Senate first obtained. 
And in case a less number than a quorum of the Senate 
shall convene, they are hereby authorized to send the Ser- 
geant-at-arms, or any other person or persons by them au- 
thorized, for any or all absent Senators, as the majority of 
such Senators present shall agree, at the expense of such 
absent Senators, respectively, unless such excuse for non-at- 
tendance shall be made as the Senate, when a quorum is 
convened, shall judge sufficient, and in that case the expense 
shall be paid out of the contingent fund. And this rule 
shall apply as well to the first convention of the Senate, at 
the legal time of meeting, as to each day of the session, 
after the hour has arrived to which the Senate stood ad- 
journed. 

[16 April, 1789—25 June, 1798—4 Feb., 1828— March 25, 18G8. 
RULE FOR DEBATE. 

9. No motion shall be debated until the same shall 

be seconded. 

[16 April, 1789— March 25, 1868. 
RULE FOR MOTIONS, DEBATE, AND WITHDRAWAL. 

10. When a motion shall be made and seconded, it 

shall be reduced to writing, if desired by the. Presiding 
Officer, or any Senator, delivered in at the table, and read, 
before the same shall be debated; and any motion may be 
withdrawn by the mover at any time before a decision, 
amendment, or ordering of the yeas and nays, except a mo- 
tion to reconsider, which shall not be withdrawn without 
leave of the Senate. 

[16 April, 1789—14 Feb., 1828—21 Jan., 1851— March 25, 1868. 



b RULES OF THE SENATE. 

PRECEDENCE OF MOTIONS WHEN A QUESTION IS UNDER DEBATE. 

11. When a question is under debate, no motion shall 

be received but — 

to adjourn; 

to proceed to the consideration of Executive 
business; 

to lie on the table; 

to postpone indefinitely; 

to postpone to a day certain; 

to commit; or 

to amend ; 
which several motions shall have precedence in the order 
they stand arranged; and motions to adjourn, to proceed to 
the consideration of Executive business, and to lie on the 
table, shall be decided without debate, and motions to take 
up or proceed to the consideration of any question shall be 
determined without debate upon the merits of the question 
proposed to be considered. 

[16 April, 1789—13 Jan., 1820—14 Feb., 1828— March 25, 1868. 
DIVISION OF A QUESTION. 

12. If the question in debate contain several points, 

any Senator may have the same divided; but, on a motion 
to strike out and insert, it shall not be in order to move for 
a division of the question; but the rejection of a motion to 
strike out and insert one proposition, shall not prevent a 
motion to strike out and insert a different proposition; nor 
prevent a subsequent motion simply to strike out; nor shall 
the rejection of a motion simply to strike out, prevent a 
subsequent motion to strike out and insert. 

[16 April, 1789—23 June, 1832— March 25, 1868. 
FILLING BLANKS. 

13. In filling up blanks, the largest sum and longest 

time shall be first put. 

[16 April, 1789—3 Jan., 1820—14 Feb., 1828— March 25, 1868. 



RULES OF THE SENATE. 7 

OBJECTION TO READING A PAPER. 

14. When the reading of a paper is called for, and 

the same is objected to by any Senator, it shall be deter- 
mined by a vote of the Senate, and without debate. 

[3 Jan., 1820—14 Feb., 1828— March 25, 1868. 
UNFINISHED BUSINESS — PRIOR SPECIAL ORDER. 

15. The unfinished business in which the Senate was 

engaged at the last preceding adjournment shall have the 
preference in the special orders of the day. 

[3 Jan., 1820—14 Feb., 1828— March 25, 1868. 
YEAS AND NAYS. 

16. When the yeas and nays shall be called for by 

one-fifth of the Senators present, each Senator called upon 
shall, unless for special reasons he be excused by the Senate 
declare openly, and without debate, his assent or dissent to 
the question. In taking the yeas and nays, and upon a 
call of the Senate, the names of the Senators shall be called 
alphabetical^. 

[16 April, 1789— March 25, 1868. 

17. When the yeas and nays shall be taken upon 

any question, in pursuance of the above rule, no Senator 
shall be permitted, under any circumstances whatever, to 
vote after the decision is announced from the Chair. 

[4 April, 1822—14 Feb., 1828— March 25, 1868. 
CLOSING THE DOORS AND CLEARING THE GALLERY. 

18. On a motion made and seconded to shut the 

doors of the Senate, on the discussion of any business which 
may, in the opinion of a Senator, require secrecy, the 
Presiding Officer shall direct the gallery to be cleared; and 
during the discussion of such motion the doors shall remain 
shut. 

[20 Feb., 1794— March 25, 1868. 



8 RULES OF THE SENATE. 

NO PERSON ADMITTED TO PRESENT PETITION, ETC. 

19. No motion shall be deemed in order to admit 

any person whatsoever within the doors of the Senate 
Chamber to present any petition, memorial, or address, or 
to hear any such read . 

[27 April, 1798— March 25, 1868. 
RECONSIDERATION. 

£0. When a question has been made and carried in 

the affirmative or negative, whether previously reconsidered 
or not, it shall be in order for any Senator of the majority 
to move for the reconsideration thereof; but no motion for 
the reconsideration of any vote shall be in order after the bill, 
resolution, message, report, amendment, or motion upon 
which the vote was taken shall have gone out of the 
possession of the Senate, announcing their decision, except 
a resolution confirming or rejecting a nomination by the 
President: nor shall any motion for reconsideration be in 
order, unless made on the same clay on which the vote was 
taken, or within The two next days of actual session of the 
Senate thereafter; but a motion to reconsider a vote upon 
a nomination shall always, if the resolution announcing the 
decision of the Senate has been sent to the President, be 
accompanied by a motion requesting the President to return 
the same to the Senate. When any question may have- 
been decided by the Senate, in which two-thirds of the 
Senators present are necessary to carry the affirmative, any 
Senator who votes on that side which prevailed in the 
question may be at liberty to move for a reconsideration;: 
and a motion for reconsideration shall be decided by a ma- 
jority of votes. But no motion to reconsider a vote upon a 
motion to reconsider shall be in order at any time. 

[25 Feb., 1790—26 March, 1806— April 6, 1867— March 25, 1868. 
CASTING VOTE OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT. 

21, When the Senate are equally divided, the Presi- 
dent may announce his vote upon the question. 

[18 July, 1789— March 25, 1868.. 



RULES OF THE SENATE. b? 

QUESTION PUT BY THE PRESIDING OFFICER. 

22. All questions shall be put by the Presiding Officer 

of the Senate, either in the presence or absence of the 
President of the United States, and the Senators shall 
signify their assent or dissent, by answering aye or no. 

[21 Aug., 1789— March 25, 1868. 
APPOINTMENT OF A SENATOR TO THE CHAIR. 

23. The Presiding Officer of the Senate shall have the 

right to name a Senator to perform the duties of the chair ; 
but such substitution shall not extend beyond an adjournment. 

[3 Jan., 1820— March 25, 1868. 
MORNING BUSINESS, PETITIONS, REPORTS, ETC. 

24. After the journal is read, the Presiding Officer 

shall lay before the Senate messages from the President, 
reports from the Executive Departments, and bills and joint 
resolutions, or other messages from the House of Repre- 
sentatives. He shall then call for — 

Petitions and memorials; 

Reports of committees; 

The introduction of bills; 

Joint resolutions; 

Resolutions; 
all which shall be received and disposed of in such order, 
unless unanimous consent shall be otherwise given; and 
every petition or memorial, or other paper, shall be referred,, 
of course, without putting a question for that purpose, 
unless the reference is objected to by a Senator at the time 
such petition, memorial, or other paper is presented. 
And before any petition or memorial, addressed to the 
Senate, shall be received and read at the table, whether the 
same shall be introduced by the Presiding Officer, or a 
Senator, a brief statement of the contents of the petition 
or memorial shall verbally be made by the introducer. 

[18 April, 1789—10 April, 1834— March 25, 1868. 



10 KULES OF THE SENATE. 

NOTICE AND PRINTING OF BILLS, ETC. 

25. One day's notice, at least, shall be given of an 

intended motion for leave to bring in a bill or joint resolu- 
tion; and all bills and joint resolutions reported by a com- 
mittee shall, after the first reading, be printed for the use 
of the Senate, and also all reports of committees, unless 
otherwise ordered; but no other paper or document shall be 
printed for the use of the Senate without special order. 

[16 April, 1789—3 Feb., 1801—3 Jan., 1820—8 April, 1822—14 Feb., 1828— March 25, 1868. 
JOINT RESOLUTIONS. 

26. Every bill and joint resolution shall receive three 

readings previous to its being passed, and the Presiding 
Officer shall give notice at each whether it be the first, 
second, or third; which reading shall be on three different 
days, unless the Senate unanimously direct otherwise. And 
all resolutions proposing amendments to the Constitution, 
or to which the approbation and signature of the President 
may be requisite, or which may grant money out of the con- 
tingent or any other fund, shall be treated, in all respects, 
in the introduction and form of proceeding on them, in the 
Senate, in a similar manner with bills; and all other resolu- 
tions shall lie on the table one day for consideration, and 
also reports of committees. 

[March 25, 1868. 
COMMITMENT OF BILLS. 

27. No bill or joint resolution shall be committed or 

amended until it shall have been twice read, after which it 
may be referred to a committee. 

[16 April, 1789— March 25, 1868. 
IN COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE. 

28. All bills and joint resolutions on a second read- 
ing shall first be considered by the Senate in the same man- 
ner as if the Senate were in committee of the whole, before 



RULES OF THE SENATE. 11 

they shall be taken up and proceeded on by the Senate agree- 
ably to the standing rules, unless otherwise ordered. 

[21 May, 1789—26 March, 1806—3 Jan., 1820— March 25, 1868. 
FINAL QUESTIONS REFERENCE TO COURT OF CLAIMS. 

29. The final question upon the second reading of 

every bill, resolution, or constitutional amendment, originat- 
ing in the Senate, and requiring three readings previous to 
being passed, shall be, whether it shall be engrossed and 
read a third time; and no amendment shall be received 
for discussion at a third reading of any bill, resolution, or 
amendment, unless by unanimous .consent of the Senators 
present; but it shall at all times be in order, before the final 
passage of any such bill, resolution, or constitutional amend- 
ment, to move its commitment; and should such commit- 
ment take place, and any amendment be reported by the 
committee, the said bill, resolution, or constitutional amend- 
ment, shall be again read a second time, and considered as 
in committee of the whole, and then the aforesaid question 
shall be again put. Whenever a private bill is under con- 
sideration, it shall be in order to move, as a substitute for 
it, a resolution of the Senate referring the case to the Court 
of Claims. 

[4 Feb., 1807—26 June, 1856— March 25, 1868. 
AMENDMENTS TO APPROPRIATION BILLS. 

30. No amendment proposing additional appropria- 
tions shall be received to any general appropriation bill, 
unless it be made to carry out the provisions of some exist- 
ing law, or some act or resolution previously passed by the 
Senate during that session, or moved by direction of a 
standing or select committee of the Senate, or in pursuance 
of an estimate from the head of some of the departments: 
and no amendment shall be received whose object is to 
provide for a private claim, unless it be to carry out the 
provisions of an existing law or a treaty stipulation. 



12 RULES OF THE SENATE. 

All amendments to general appropriation bills reported 
from committees of the Senate, proposing new items of ap- 
propriation, shall, one day before they are offered, be re- 
ferred to the Committee on Appropriations, and all general 
appropriation bills shall be referred to the said committee. 

[19 Dec, 1850—7 May, 1852—13 Jan., 1854—3 May, 1854—7 March, 1867— March 25, 1868. 
SPECIAL ORDERS. 

31. When the hour shall arrive for the consideration 

of a special order, it shall be the duty of the Presiding 
Officer to take it up, unless the unfinished business of the 
preceding day shall be under consideration. 

[26 June, 1856— March 25, 1868. 
PRECEDENCE IN SPECIAL ORDERS. 

When two or more subjects shall have been specially as- 
signed for consideration, they shall take precedence accord- 
ing to the order of time at which they were severally 
assigned, and such order shall at no time be lost or changed 
except by the direction of the Senate. 

[26 June, 1856— March 25, 1868. 
PRECEDENCE IN SPECIAL ORDERS AND OVER GENERAL ORDERS. 

When two or more subjects shall have been assigned for 
the same hour, the subject first assigned for that hour shall 
take precedence; but special orders shall always have 
precedence of general orders, unless such special orders 
shall be postponed by direction of the Senate. 

[26 June, 1856— March 25, 1868. 
TWO-THIRDS REQUIRED TO MAKE A SPECIAL ORDER. 

No bill, joint resolution, or other subject, shall be made 
a special order for a particular day and hour without the 
concurrence of two-thirds of the Senators present. 

[13 January, 1862— March 25, 1868 



RULES OF THE SENATE. 13 

MAKING UP THE JOURNAL. 

32. The titles of bills and joint resolutions, and such 

parts thereof only as shall be affected by proposed amend- 
ments, shall be inserted on the journal. 

[12 March, 1792— March 25, 1868. 

33. The proceedings of the Senate shall be entered- 

■on the journal as concisely as possible, care being taken to 
detail a true and accurate account of the proceedings; but 
■every vote of the Senate shall be entered on the journal, 
and a brief statement of the contents of each petition, 
memorial, or paper, presented to the Senate, shall also be 
inserted on the journal. 

[19 May, 1789—12 March, 1792—14 Feb., 1828— March 25, 1868. 
STANDING COMMITTEES. 

34. The following standing committees shall be ap- 
pointed at the commencement of each session, with leave to 
report by bill or otherwise : 

[5 March, 1857— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Foreign Relations, to consist of seven 
Senators. 

[10 Dec, 1816—5 March, 1857— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Finance, to consist of seven Senators. 

[10 Dec, 1816—5 March, 1857— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Appropriations, to consist of seven 
Senators. 

[6 March, 1867— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Commerce, to consist of seven Senators. 

[10 Dec, 1816—7 Dec, 1825—5 March, 1857— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Manufactures, to consist of five Senators. 

[10 Feb., 1864— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Agriculture, to consist of five Senators. 

[6 March, 1863— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Military Affairs, to consist of seven 
Senators. 

[10 Dec, 1816—5 March, 1857— March 25, 1863. 



14 RULES OF THE SENATE. 

A Committee on Naval Affairs, to consist of seven 
Senators. 

[10 Dec, 1816—5 March, 1857— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on the Judiciary, to consist of seven 
Senators. 

[10 Dec, 1816—5 March, 1857— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, to consist 
of seven Senators. 

[10 Dec, 1816—5 March, 1857— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Public Lands, to consist of seven 
Senators. 

[10 Dec, 1816—5 March, 1857— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Private Land Claims, to consist of five 
Senators. 

[27 Dec, 1826—5 March, 1857— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Indian Affairs, to consist of seven 
Senators. 

[3 Jan., 1820—5 March, 1857— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Pensions, to consist of seven Senators. 

[10 Dec, 1816—5 March, 1857— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Revolutionary Claims, to consist of five 
Senators. 

[28 Dec, 1832—5 March, 1857— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Claims, to consist of seven Senators. 

[10 Dec, 1816—5 March, 1857—26 Jan., 1860— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on the District of Columbia, to consist of 
seven Senators. 

[18 Dec, 1816—5 March, 1857— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Patents, to consist of five Senators. 

[7 Sept., 1837—5 March, 1857— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, to con- 
sist of five Senators, who shall have power also to act 
jointly with the same committee of the House of Represent- 
atives. 

[16 Dec, 1819—19 Dec, 1837—28 May, 1850—5 March, 1857— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Territories, to consist of seven Senators. 

[25 March, 1844—5 March, 1857— March 25, 1868. 






RULES OF THE SENATE. 15 

A Committee on the Pacific Railroad, to consist of nine 
Senators. 

[22 Dec, 1863— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Mines and Mining, to consist of seven 
Senators. 

[8 March, 1865— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee to Audit and Control -the Contingent Ex- 
penses of the Senate, to consist of three Senators, to which 
shall be referred all resolutions directing the payment of 
money out of the contingent fund of the Senate, or creating 
a charge on the same. 

[4 Nov., 1807—7 April, 1853—5 March, 1857— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Printing, to consist of three Senators, 
to whom shall be referred every question on the printing of 
documents, reports, or other matter transmitted by either 
of the executive departments, and all memorials, petitions, 
accompanying documents, together w T ith all other matter 
the printing of which shall be moved, excepting bills orig- 
inating in Congress, resolutions offered by any Senator, 
communications from the Legislatures or Conventions law- 
fully called of the respective States, and motions to print 
by order of the standing committees of the Senate; motions 
to print additional numbers shall likewise be referred to said 
committee; and when the report shall be in favor of print- 
ing additional numbers, it shall be accompanied by an esti- 
mate of the probable cost; the said committee shall also 
supervise and direct the procuring of maps and drawings 
accompanying documents ordered to be printed. 

[15 Dec, 1841—18 Dec, 1850—22 Jan., 1855—5 March, 1857— March 25, 1868. 

A Committee on Engrossed Bills, to consist of three 
Senators, whose duty it shall be to examine all bills, amend- 
ments, and resolutions, before they go out of the possession 
of the Senate; and shall deliver the same to the Secretary 
of the Senate, who shall enter upon the journal that the 
same have been correctly engrossed. 

[ 3 Jan., 1820— March 25, 1868. 



16 KULES OF THE SENATE. 

A Committee on Enrolled Bills, to consist of three Sen- 
ators, who, or some one of whom, shall forthwith present all 
enrolled Senate bills to the President in person, for his sig- 
nature, and report the fact and date of such presentation to 
the Senate. 

[ 6 Aug., 1789—5 March, 1857— March 25, 1868 
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEES. 

35. In the appointment of the standing committees, 

the Senate will proceed, by ballot, to appoint severally the 
chairman of each committee, and then, by one ballot, the 
other members necessary to complete the same; and a 
majority of the whole number of votes given shall be neces- 
sary to the choice of a chairman of a standing committee, 
but a plurality of votes shall elect the other members thereof. 
All other committees shall be appointed by ballot, and a 
plurality of votes shall make a choice. 

[ 3 Jan., 1820—8 Dec, 1826—14 Feb., 1828— March 25, 1868. 
REFERENCE TO STANDING OR SELECT COMMITTEES 

36. When motions are made for reference of the 

same subject to a select committee and to a standing com- 
mittee, the question on reference to the standing committee 
shall be first put. 

[14 Feb., 1828— March 25, 1868. 
EXECUTIVE BUSINESS — PROCEEDINGS ON NOMINATIONS. 

37. When nominations shall be made by the President 

of the United States to the Senate, they shall, unless other- 
wise ordered b} T the Senate, be referred to appropriate 
committees; and the final question on every nomination 
shall be, "Will the Senate advise and consent to this nomi- 
nation?' 7 which question shall not be put on the same day 
on which the nomination is received, nor on the day on 
which it may be reported by a committee, unless by the 
unanimous consent of the Senate. Nominations neither 



RULES OF THE SENATE. 17 

approved nor rejected during the session at which they are 
made shall not be acted upon at any succeeding session 
without being again made by the President; and if the 
Senate shall adjourn or take a recess for more than thirty 
days, all nominations pending and not finally acted upon at 
the time of taking such adjournment or recess shall be re- 
turned to the President, and shall not be afterwards acted 
upon, unless again submitted to the Senate by the President; 
and all motions pending to reconsider a vote upon a nomi- 
nation shall fall on such adjournment or recess; and the 
Secretary of the Senate shall thereupon make out and fur- 
nish to the heads of departments and other officers the list 
of nominations rejected or not confirmed, as required by 
law. When the President of the United States shall meet 
the Senate in the Senate Chamber for the consideration of 
executive business, the Presiding Officer of the Senate shall 
have a chair on the floor, be considered as the head of the 
Senate, and his chair shall be assigned to the President of 
the United States. When the Senate shall be convened by 
the President of the United States to any other place, the Pre- 
siding Officer of the Senate and the Senators shall attend at 
the place appointed, with the necessary officers of the Senate. 

[21 Aug., 1789—18 Feb., 1843— March 25, 1868. 
PROCEEDINGS ON TREATIES. 

38. When a treaty shall be laid before the Senate for 

ratification, it shall be read a first time, when no motion in 
respect to it shall be in order except to refer it to a com- 
mittee or to print it in confidence for the use of the Senate. 
Its second reading shall be for consideration, and shall be 
on a subsequent day, when it shall be taken up as in Com- 
mittee of the Whole and be considered by articles, when 
amendments may be proposed; but when amendments are 
reported by a committee they shall be first acted on, after 
which other amendments may be proposed; and when 
through, the whole proceedings had as in Committee of the 



18 RULES OF THE SENATE. 

Whole shall be reported to the SeDate, when the question 
shall be reported to the Senate, when the question shall be, 
if the treaty be amended, "Will the Senate concur in the 
amendments made in Committee of the Whole?" and the 
amendments may be taken separately or in gross, as the 
Senate may elect, after which new amendments may be 
proposed. The decisions thus made shall be reduced to the 
form of a resolution of ratification, with or without amend- 
ments, as the case may be, which shall be proposed on a 
subsequent day, unless by unanimous consent the Senate 
determine otherwise, when every one shall again be free to 
move amendments, the question on which shall be proposed 
and taken as in the case of amendments to the article. And 
on the final question to advise and consent to the ratifica- 
tion in the form agreed to, the concurrence of two-thirds of 
the Senators present shall be requisite to determine it in 
the affirmative, but all other motions and questions thereon 
shall be decided by a majority vote. 

L 6 Jan., 1801— March 25, 1868. 
MATTERS CONFIDENTIAL AND SECRET. 

39. All confidential communications made by the 

President of the United States to the Senate shall be by the 
Senators and the Officers of the Senate kept secret, and all 
treaties which may be laid before the Senate, and all remarks 
and proceedings thereon, shall also be kept secret until the 
Senate shall, by their resolution, take off the injunction of 
secrecy. 

[22 Dec, 1800—3 Jan., 1820— March 25, 1868. -* L, 

SECRECY OP REMARKS ON NOMINATIONS. 

40. All information or remarks concerning the char- 
acter or qualifications of any person nominated by the 
President to office shall be kept a secret; but the fact that 
a nomination has been made shall not be regarded as a 
secret. 

[3 Jan., 1S20— March 25, 1868. 



RULES OF THE SENATE. 19 

CLEARING OF THE SENATE. 

41.- When acting on confidential or executive busi- 
ness, the Chamber shall be cleared of all persons except the 
secretary of the Senate, the principal or executive clerk, 
the sergeant-at-arms and doorkeeper, the assistant door- 
keeper, and such other officers as the Presiding Officer shall 
think necessary; and all such officers shall be sworn to 
secrecy. 

[3 Jan., 1820— March 25, 1868. 
SEPARATE BOOKS TO BE KEPT. 

42. The legislative proceedings, the executive pro- 
ceedings, and the confidential legislative proceedings of the 
Senate, shall be kept in separate books. 

[19 May, 1789—15 April, 1828— March 25, 1868. 
EXECUTIVE PROCEEDINGS FURNISHED TO THE PRESIDENT. 

43. -Nominations approved or definitely acted on by 

the Senate shall not be returned by the secretary of the 
Senate to the President until the expiration of the time 
limited for making a motion to reconsider the same, or 
while a motion to reconsider is pending, unless otherwise 
ordered by the Senate. The President of the United States 
shall, from time to time, be furnished with an authenticated 
transcript of the executive records of the Senate, but no 
further extract from the executive journal shall be furnished, 
except by special order; and no paper, except original 
treaties, transmitted to the Senate by the President of the 
United States, or any executive officer, shall be returned or 
delivered from the office of the secretary of the Senate, 
without an order of the Senate for that purpose. 

[ 27 Jan., 1792—27 March, 1818—5 Jan., 1829—6 April, 1867— March 25, 1868. 
PROCEEDINGS ON AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION. 

44. When an amendment to be proposed to the 

Constitution is under consideration, the concurrence of two- 



20 RULES OF THE SENATE. 

thirds of the Senators present shall not be requisite to 
decide any question for amendments, or extending to the 
merits, being short of the final question. 

[26 March, 1806— March 25, 1868. 
MESSAGES TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 

45. Messages shall be sent to the House of Repre- 
sentatives by the Secretary, who shall previously endorse 
the -final determination of the Senate upon bills and other 
papers communicated. 

[26 March, 1806— March 25, 1868. 
MESSENGERS INTRODUCED. 

46. Messengers may be introduced in any state of 

business, except while a question is putting, while the yeas 
and nays are calling, or while the ballots are counting. 

[ 26 March, 1806— March 25, 18G8. 
PERSONS ADMITTED ON FLOOR. 

47. No person shall be admitted to the floor of the 

Senate, while in session, except as follows, viz: The officers 
of the Senate, members of the House of Representatives 
and their clerk, the President of the United States and his 
private secretary, the heads of departments, ministers of 
the United States and foreign ministers, ex-Presidents and 
ex-Vice-Presidents of the United States, ex-Senators, Sen- 
ators elect, judges of the Supreme Court, and Governors of 
States and Territories. 

[17 March, 1853—23 Jan., 1854—24 Jan., 1854—6 March, 1856—11 Jan., 1859—7 Feb., 1862— 

March 25, 1868. 

REGULATION OF SENATE WING OF THE CAPITOL. 

48. The Presiding Officer of the Senate shall have 

the regulation and control of such parts of the Capitol, and 
of its passages, as are or may be set apart for the use of 
the Senate and its officers. 

[22 Jan., 1824—14 Feb., 1828— March 25, 1868. 



RULES OF THE SENATE. 21 

RESTRICTION OF PRESENTING REJECTED CLAIMS. 

49. Whenever a claim is presented to the Senate 

and referred to a committee, and the committee report that 
the claim ought not to be allowed, and the report be adopted 
by the Senate, it shall not be in order to move to take the 
papers from the files for the purpose of referring them at a 
subsequent session, unless the claimant shall present a 
memorial for that purpose, stating in what respect the 
committee have erred in their report, or that new evidence 
has been discovered since the report, and setting forth the 
new evidence in the memorial. 

[25 Jan., 1842—21 Dec. 1842— March 25, 1868. 
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATING CONFIDENCE OF SENATE. 

50. Any Senator or officer of the Senate who shall 

disclose the secret or confidential business or proceedings 
of the Senate shall be liable, if a Senator, to suffer expul- 
sion from the body, and if an officer, to dismissal from the 
service of the Senate, and to punishment for contempt. 

[10 May, 1844— March 25, 1868. 
OATHS OF OFFICE. 

51. The oaths or affirmations prescribed by the Con- 
stitution and by the act of Congress of July 2, 1862, to be 
taken and subscribed before entering upon the duties of 
office, shall be taken and subscribed by every Senator in 
open Senate before entering upon his duties. They shall 
also be taken and subscribed in the same way by the sec- 
retary of the Senate; but the other officers of the Senate 
may take and subscribe them in the office of the secretary. 

I 25 Jan., 1864— March 25, 1868. 
BUSINESS CONTINUED FROM SESSION TO SESSION. 

52. At the second, or any subsequent, session of a 

Congress, the legislative business of the Senate which re- 



22 RULES OF THE SENATE 

mains undetermined at the close of the next preceding ses- 
sion of that Congress, shall be resumed and proceeded with 
in the same manner as if no adjournment of the Senate had 
taken place; and all subjects referred to committees, and 
not reported upon at the close of a session of Congress, shall 
be returned to the office of the secretary of the Senate, and 
be by him retained until the next succeeding session of 
that Congress, when they shall be returned to the several 
committees to which they had been previously referred. 

[March 25, 1868. 
SUSPENSION AND ADMENDMENT OF RULES. 

53. No motion to suspend, modify, or amend the 

rules, or any thereof, shall be in order, except on one day's 
notice in writing, specifying the rule to be suspended, modi- 
fied, or amended, and the purpose thereof. But any rule 
may be suspended by unanimous consent, except the seven- 
teenth rule, which shall never be suspended. 

A motion to suspend, or to concur in a resolution of the 
House of Representatives to suspend, the 16th and 17th 
joint rules, or either of them, shall always be in order, be 
immediately considered, and be decided without debate. 

[16 April, 1789—26 March, 1806—3 Jan., 1820—24 Feb., 1828—7 May, 1852— March 25, 1868. 



EULE8 



OF 



PROCEDURE AND PRACTICE IN THE SENATE, 



WHEN SITTING ON THE 



TRIAL OF IMPEACHMENTS, 



AS 



ADOPTED BY THE SENATE MARCH 2, 1868, AND AMENDED 
MARCH 31, 1868, AND APRIL 3, 1868. 



RULES 



OF 



PROCEDURE AND PRACTICE IN THE SENATE 

WHEN SITTING ON THE TRIAL ON IMPEACHMENTS. 



I. Whensoever the Senate shall receive notice from the 
House of Representatives that managers are appointed on 
their part to conduct an impeachment against any person, 
and are directed to carry articles of impeachment to the 
Senate, the Secretary of the Senate shall immediately inform 
the House of Representatives that the Senate is ready to 
receive the managers for the purpose of exhibiting such 
articles of impeachment agreeably to said notice. 

II. When the managers of an impeachment shall be in- 
troduced at the bar of the Senate, and shall signify that 
they are ready to exhibit articles of impeachment against 
any person, the Presiding Officer of the Senate shall direct 
the Sergeant-at-arms to make proclamation, who shall, after 
making proclamation, repeat the following words, viz: "All 
persons are commanded to keep silence, on pain of impris- 
onment, while the House of Representatives is exhibiting 
to the Senate of the United States articles of impeachment 

against ;" after which the articles shall be 

exhibited, and then the Presiding Officer of the Senate shall 
inform the managers that the Senate will take proper order 
on the subject of the impeachment, of which due notice 
shall be given to the House of Representatives. 

III. Upon such articles being presented to the Senate, 
the Senate shall, at one o'clock afternoon of the day (Sunday 
excepted) following such presentation, or sooner if so ordered 



26 RULES OF THE SENATE. 

by the Senate, proceed to the consideration of such articles, 
and shall continue in session from day to day (Sundays ex- 
cepted) after the trial shall commence, (unless otherwise or- 
dered by the Senate,) untii final judgment shall be rendered, 
and so much longer as may, in its judgment, be needful. 
Before proceeding to the consideration of the articles of im- 
peachment, the Presiding Officer shall administer the oath 
hereinafter provided to the members of the Senate then 
present, and to the other members of the Senate as they 
shall appear, whose duty it shall be to take the same. 

IV. When the President of the United States, or the 
Vice-President of the United States, upon whom the powers 
and duties of the office of President shall have devolved, 
shall be impeached, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court 
of the United States shall preside; and in a case requiring 
the said Chief Justice to preside, notice shall be given to 
him by the Presiding Officer of the Senate of the time and 
place fixed for the consideration of the articles of impeach- 
ment, as aforesaid, with a request tD attend; and the said 
Chief Justice shall preside over the Senate during the con- 
sideration of said. articles, and upon the trial of the person 
impeached therein. 

V. The Presiding Officer shall have power to make and 
issue, by himself or by the Secretary of the Senate, all 
orders, mandates, writs, and precepts authorized by these 
rules, or by the Senate, and to make and enforce such other 
regulations and orders in the premises as the Senate may 
authorize or provide. 

VI. The Senate shall have power to compel the attend- 
ance of witnesses, to enforce obedience to its orders , man- 
dates, writs, precepts, and judgments, to preserve order, 
and to punish in a summary way contempts of and disobe- 
dience to its authority, orders, mandates, writs, precepts, 
or judgments, and to make all lawful orders, rules, and regu- 
lations which it may deem essential or conducive to the 



RULES OF THE SENATE. 27 

ends of justice. And the Sergeant-at-arms, under the di- 
rection of the Senate, may employ such aid and assistance 
as may be necessary to enforce, execute, and carry into 
effect the lawful orders, mandates, writs, and precepts of 
the Senate. 

VII. The Presiding Officer of the Se.iate shall direct all 
necessary preparations in the Senate chamber, and the Pre- 
siding Officer on the trial shall direct all the forms of pro- 
ceeding while the Senate are sitting for the purpose of 
trying an impeachment, and all forms during the trial not 
otherwise specially provided for. And the Presiding Officer 
on the trial may r«ule all questions of evidence and inciden- 
tal questions, which ruling shall stand as the judgment of 
the Senate, unless some member of the Senate shall ask 
that a formal vote be taken thereon, in which case it shall 
be submitted to the Senate for decision; or he may at his 
option, in the first instance, submit any such question to a 
vote of the members of the Senate. Upon all such ques- 
tions the vote shall be without a division, unless the yeas 
and nays be demanded by one-fifth of the members present 
when the same shall be taken. 

VIII. Upon the presentation of articles of impeachment 
and the organization of the Senate as hereinbefore provided, 
a writ of summons shall issue to the accused, reciting said 
articles, and notifying him to appear before the Senate upon 
a day and at a place to be fixed by the Senate and named 
in such writ, and file his answer to said articles of impeach- 
ment, and to stand to and abide the orders and judgments 
of the Senate thereon; which writ shall be served by such 
officer or person as shall be named in the precept thereof, 
such number of days prior to the day fixed for such appear- 
ance as shall be named in such precept, either by the de- 
livery of an attested copy thereof to the person accused, or 
if that cannot conveniently be done, by leaving such copy 
at the last known place of abode of such person, or at his 



28 RULES OF THE SENATE 

usual place of business in some conspicuous place therein: 
or if such service shall be, in the judgment of the Senate, 
impracticable, notice to the accused to appear shall be given 
in such other manner, by publication or otherwise, as shall 
be deemed just; and if the writ aforesaid shall fa 1 of ser- 
vice in the manner aforesaid, the proceedings shall not 
thereby abate, but further service may be made in such 
manner as the Senate shall direct. If the accused, after 
service, shall fail to appear, either in person or by attorney, 
on the da} T so fixed therefor as aforesaid, or, appearing, shall 
fail to file his answer to such articles of impeachment, the 
trial shall proceed, nevertheless, as upon a plea of not guilty. 
If a plea of guilty shall be entered, judgment may be 
entered thereon without further proceedings. 

IX. At twelve o'clock and thirty minutes afternoon of 
the day appointed for the return of the summons against 
the person impeached, the legislative and executive business 
of the Senate shall be suspended, and the Secretary of the 
Senate shall administer an oath to the returning officer in 

the form following, viz: "I, . do solemnly 

swear that the return made by me upon the process issued 

on the day of , by the Senate of the United 

States, against , is truly made, and that I 

have performed such service as therein described: so help 
me God." Which oath shall be entered at large on the 
records. 

X. The person impeached shall then be called to ap- 
pear and answer the articles of impeachment against him. 
If he appear, or any person for him, the appearance shall 
be recorded, stating particularly if by himself, or by agent 
or attorney, naming the person appearing, and the capacity 
in which he appears. If he do not appear, either per- 
sonally or by agent or attorney, the same shall be recorded. 

XL At twelve o'clock and thirty minutes afternoon of 
the day appointed for the trial of an impeachment, the legis- 



RULES OF THE SENATE. 29 

lative and executive business of the Senate shall be sus- 
pended, and the Secretary shall give notice to the House 
of Representatives that the Senate is ready to proceed upon 

the impeachment of , in the Senate chamber, 

which chamber is prepared with accommodations for the 
reception of the House of Representatives. 

XII. The hour of the day at which the Senate shall sit 
upon the trial of an impeachment shall be (unless otherwise 
ordered) twelve o'clock m. ; and when the hour for such 
sitting shall arrive, the Presiding Officer of the Senate shall 
so announce; and thereupon the Presiding Officer upon such 
trial shall cause proclamation to be made, and the business 
of the trial shall proceed. The adjournment of the Senate 
sitting in said trial shall not operate as an adjournment of 
the Senate; but on such adjournment, the Senate shall re- 
sume the consideration of its legislative and executive 
business. 

XIII. Tne Secretary of the Senate shall record the pro- 
ceedings in cases of impeachment as in the case of legisla- 
tive proceedings, and the same shall be reported in the same 
manner as the legislative proceedings of the Senate. 

XIY. Counsel for the parties shall be admitted to ap- 
pear and be heard upon an impeachment. 

XY. All motions made by the parties or their counsel 
shall be addressed to the Presiding Officer, and if he, or 
any Senator, shall require it, they shall be committed to 
writing, and read at the Secretary's table. 

XVI. Witnesses shall be examined by one person on be- 
half of the party producing them, and then cross-examined 
by one person on the other side. 

XYII. If a Senator is called as a witness, he shall be 
sworn, and give his testimony standing in his place. 

XVIII. If a Senator wishes a question to be put to a wit- 
ness, or to offer a motion or order, (except a motion to ad- 
journ,) it shall be reduced to writing, and put by the Pre- 
siding Officer. 



30 RULES OF THE SENATE. 

XIX. At all times while the Senate is sitting upon the 
trial of an iinpreachment the doors of the Senate shall be 
kept open, unless the Senate shall direct the doors to be 
closed while deliberating upon its decisions. 

XX. All preliminary or interlocutory questions, and all 
motions, shaM be argued for not exceeding one hour on each 
side, unless the Senate shall, by order, extend the time. 

XXI. The case, on each side, shall be opened by one 
person. The final argument on the merits maybe made by 
two persons on each side, (unless otherwise ordered by the 
Senate, upon application for that purpose,) and the argu- 
ment shall be opened and closed on the part of the House 
of Representatives. 

XXII. On the final question whether the impeachment 
is sustained, the yeas and nays shall be taken on each arti- 
cle of impeachment separately; and if the impeachment 
shall not, upon any of the articles presented, be sustained 
by the votes of two-thirds of the members present, a judg- 
ment of acquittal shall be entered ; but if the person accused 
in such articles of impeachment shall be convicted upon 
any of said articles by the votes of two-thirds of the mem- 
bers present, the Senate shall proceed to pronounce judg- 
ment, and a certified copy of such judgment shall be de- 
posited in the office of the Secretary of State. 

XXIII. All the orders and decisions shall be made and 
had by yeas and nays, which shall be entered on the record, 
and without debate, subject, however, to the operation of 
Rule VII, except when the doors shall be closed for delib- 
eration, and in that case no member shall speak more than 
once on one question, and for not more than ten minutes 
on an interlocutory question, and for not more than fif- 
teen minutes on the final question, unless by consent of 
the Senate, to be had without debate; but a motion to ad- 
journ may be decided without the yeas and nays, unless 
they be demanded by one-fifth of the members present. 



RULES OF THE SENATE. 31 

XXIV. Witnesses shall be sworn in the following form, 

viz: "You, , do swear (or affirm, as the case 

may be) that the evidence you shall give in the case now 

depending between the United States and ■ 

shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the 
truth: so help you God." Which oath shall be administered 
by the Secretary, or any other duly authorized person. 

Form of subpoena to be issued on the application of the mana- 
gers of the impeachment, or of the party impeached, or of 
his counsel: 

To , greeting : 

You and each of you are hereby commanded to appear 

before the Senate of the United States, on the day 

of , at the Senate chamber in the city of Washington, 

then and there to testify your knowledge in the cause which 
is before the Senate in which the House of Representatives 
have impeached . 

Fail not. 

Witness , and Presiding Officer of the Sen- 
ate, at the city of Washington, this day of , 

in the year of our Lord , and of the independence of 

the United States the . 

Form of direction for the service of said subpoena. 

The Senate of the United States to , greet- 
ing: 

You are hereby commanded to serve and return the 
within subpoena according to law. 

Dated at Washington, this day of , in the 

year of our Lord , and of the independence of the 

United States the . 



Secretary of the Senate. 



32 RULES OF THE SENATE. 

Form of oath to be administered to the members of the Senate 
sitting in the trial of impeachments. 

''I solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) that 
in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment 

of , now pending, I will do impartial justice 

according to the Constitution and laws: so help me God." 

Form of summons to be issued and served upon the person im- 
peached . 

The United States op America, ss: 

The Senate of the United States to , greeting: 

Whereas the House of Representatives of the United 

States of America did, on the day of , exhibit 

to the Senate articles of impeachment against you, the said 

, in the words following: 

[Here insert the articles.] 

And demand that you, the said , should be 

put to answer the accusations as set forth in said articles, 
and that such proceedings, examinations, trials, and judg- 
ments might be thereupon had as are agreeable to law and 
justice; 

You, the said , are therefore hereby sum- 
moned to be and appear before the Senate of the United 
States of America, at their chamber in the city of Washing- 
ton, on the day of , at twelve o'clock and 

thirty minutes afternoon, then and there to answer to the 
said articles of impeachment, and then and there to abide 
by, obey, and perform such orders, directions, and judgments 
as the Senate of the United States shall make in the premises 
according to the Constitution and laws of the United States. 

Hereof you are not to fail. 

Witness , and Presiding Officer of the said 

Senate, at the city of Washington, this day of , 

in the year of our Lord , and of the independence of 

of the United States the . 



EULES OF THE SENATE. 33 

Form of precept io he endorsed on said ivrit of summons: 
The United States of America, ss: 
The Senate of the United States to , greeting : 

You are hereby commanded to deliver to and leave with 

, if conveniently to be found, or if not, to 

leave at his usual place of abcde, or at his usual place of 
business in some conspicuous place, a true and attested 
copy of the within writ of summons, together with a like 
copy of this precept; and in whichsoever way you perform 

the service, let it be done at least days before the 

appearance day mentioned in said writ of summons. 

Fail not, and make return of this writ of summons and 
precept, with your proceedings thereon indorsed, on or be- 
fore the appearance day mentioned in the said writ of sum- 
mons. 

Witness , and Presiding Officer of the Sen- 
ate, at the city of Washington, this day of , 

in the year of our Lord , and of the independence 

of the United States the . 

All process shall be served by the Sergeant-at-arms of 
the Senate, unless otherwise ordered by the court. 

XXY. If the Senate shall at any time fail to sit for the 
consideration of articles of impeachment on the day or 
hour fixed therefor, the Senate may, by an order to be 
adopted without debate, fix a day and hour for resuming 
such consideration. 
3 



JOINT RULES 



OF 



THE TWO HOUSES. 



JOINT RULES OF THE TWO HOUSES. 



CONFERENCES. 



1. In every case of an amendment of a bill agreed 

to in one House and dissented to in the other, if either 
House shall request a conference, and appoint a committee 
for that purpose, and the other House shall also appoint a 
committee to confer, such committee shall, at a convenient 
hour, to be agreed on by their chairmen, meet in the confer- 
ence chamber, and state to each other, verbally or in writing, 
as either shall choose, the reasons of their respective Houses 
for and against the amendment, and confer freely thereon. 

[15 April, 1789. 
MESSAGE SENT TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. 

2. When a message shall be sent from the Senate 

to the House of Representatives, it shall be announced at 
the door of the House, by the Doorkeeper, and shall be re- 
spectfully communicated to the Chair by the person by 
■whom it may be sent. 

MESSAGE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO SENATE. 

3. The same ceremony shall be observed when a 

message shall be sent from the House of Representatives to 
the Senate. 

BY WHOM MESSAGES MAY BE SENT. 

4. Messages shall be sent by such persons as a sense 

of propriety in each House may determine to be proper. 



38 JOINT RULES OF THE TWO HOUSES. 

ENGROSSED BILLS. 

5. While bills are on their passage between the two 



Houses, they shall be on paper, and under the signature of 
the Secretary or Clerk of each House, respectively. 

[6 August, 1789. 
ENROLLED BILLS. 

6. After a bill shall have passed both Houses, it 

shall be duly enrolled on parchment by the Clerk of the 
House of Representatives, or the Secretary of the Senate, 
as the bill may have originated in the one or the other 
House, before it shall be presented to the President of the 
United States. 

[6 August, 1789. 
EXAMINATION OF ENROLLED BILLS. 

7. When bills are enrolled they shall be examined 



by a joint committee of two from the Senate and two from 
the House of Representatives, appointed as a standing com- 
mittee for that purpose, who shall carefully compare the 
enrollment with the engrossed bills, as passed in the two 
Houses, and, correcting any errors that may be discovered 
in the enrolled bills, make their report forthwith to their 
respective Houses. 

[6 August, 1789—1 Feb., 1827. 
SIGNING OP ENROLLED BILLS. 

8. After examination and report, each bill shall be 

signed in the respective Houses, first by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, then by the President of the 
Senate. 

[ 6 August, im 
PRESENTATION OP ENROLLED BILLS TO THE PRESIDENT. 

9. After a bill shall have been thus signed in each 

House, it shall be presented by the said committee to the 



JOINT RULES OF THE TWO HOUSES. 39 

President of the United States, for his approbation, (it being- 
first endorsed on the back of the roll, certifying in which 
House the same originated; which endorsement shall be 
signed by the Secretary or Clerk, as the case may be, of 
the House in which the same did originate,) and shall be 
entered on the journal of each House. The said committee 
shall report the day of presentation to the President; which 
time shall also be carefully entered on the journal of each 
House. 

f 6 August, 1789. 

SAME PROCEEDINGS AS ABOVE ON ORDERS, RESOLUTIONS, AND 
VOTES, AS ON BILLS. 

10. All orders, resolutions, and votes, which are to 

be presented to the President of the United States for his 
approbation, shall also, in the same manner, be previously 
enrolled, examined and signed; and shall be presented in 
the same manner, and by the same committee, as provided 
in the cases of bills. 

[6 August, 1789. 
JOINT ADDRESS TO THE PRESIDENT. 

11. When the Senate and House of Representatives 

shall judge it proper to make a joint address to the Presi- 
dent, it shall be presented to him in his audience chamber 
by the President of the Senate, in the presence of the 
Speaker and both Houses. 

[6 August, 1789. 
NOTICE OF REJECTED BILL. 

12. When a bill or resolution which shall have 

passed in one House is rejected in the other, notice thereof 
shall be given to the House in which the same shall have 
passed. 

10 August, 1790. 



40 JOINT RULES OF THE TWO HOUSES. 

REJECTED BILL NOT RENEWED WITHOUT TEN DAYS' NOTICE. 

13. When a bill or resolution which has been passed 

in one House shall be rejected in the other, it shall not be 
brought in during the same session, without a notice of ten 
days and leave of two-thirds of that House in which it shall 
be renewed. 

f 10 June, 1790. 
PAPERS TO BE SENT WITH BILLS . 

14. Each House shall transmit to the other all pa- 
pers on which any bill or resolution shall be founded. 

[ 10 June, 1790. 
ADHERENCE BY EACH HOUSE DESTROYS BILL. 

15. After each House shall have adhered to their 

disagreement, a bill or resolution shall be lost. 

[ 10 June, 1790. 

BILL NOT TO BE SENT TO OTHER HOUSE ON THREE LAST DAYS OF 

SESSION. 

*16. No bill that shall have passed one House shall 

be sent for concurrence to the other on either of the last 
three days of the session. 

BILL NOT TO BE SENT TO THE PRESIDENT ON LAST DAY OF SESSION. 

* 17. No bill or resolution that shall have passed the 

House of Representatives and the Senate shall be presented 
to the President of the United States, for his approbation, 
on the last dav of the session. 



* By the 26th Rule of the Senate : A motion to suspend or concur in resolution of H. R. to 
suspend the 16th and 17th Joint Rules, or either of them, shall always he in order, immediately 
considered, and decided without debate. 

[ 7 May, 1852. 



JOINT RULES OF THE TWO HOUSES. 41 

PRINTING OF BILLS BY THE OTHER HOUSE. 

18. When bills which have passed one House are 

ordered to be printed in the other, a greater number of 
copies shall not be printed than may be necessary for the 
use of the House making the order. 

[9 Feb., 1829. 
SALE OF INTOXICATING LIQUORS FORBIDDEN. 

19. No spirituous or malt liquors or wines shall be 

offered for sale, exhibited, or kept within the Capitol, or in 
any room or building connected therewith, or on the public 
grounds adjacent thereto. And it shall be the duty of the 
Sergeants-at-arms of the two Houses, under the supervision 
of the presiding officers thereof, respectively, to enforce the 
foregoing provisions. And any officer or employe of either 
House who shall in any manner violate, or connive at the 
violation of this rule shall be dismissed from office. 

[18 Sept., 1837— H. R., 26 Feb., 1844— S., 30 May, 1844. 
JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY. . 

20. There shall be a joint committee on the Library, 

to consist of three members on the part of the Senate and 
three on the part of the House of Representatives, to super- 
intend and direct the expenditure of all moneys appropriated 
for the Library, and to perform such other duties as are or 
may be directed by law. 

[S., 6 Dec, 1843— H. R., 7 Dec., 1843. 
CONTINUANCE OF BUSINESS AT SUBSEQUENT SESSION. 

21. — : — After six days from the commencement of a 
second or subsequent session of Congress, all bills, resolu- 
tions, or reports, which originated in either House, and at 
the close of the next preceding session remained undeter- 
mined in either House, shall be resumed and acted on in the 
same manner as if an adjournment had not taken place. 

f 14 August, 1848. 



42 JOINT RULES OF THE TWO HOUSES. 

22. The two Houses shall assemble in the hall of 

the House of Representatives at the hour of one o'clock: p. 
m., on the second Wednesday in February next succeeding 
the meeting of the electors of President and Vice-President 
of the United States, and the President of the Senate shall 
be their presiding officer; one teller shall be appointed on 
the part of the Senate and two on the part of the House of 
Representatives, to whom shall be handed, as they are 
opened by the President of the Senate, the certificates of 
the electoral votes; and said tellers, having read the same 
in the presence and hearing of the two Houses then assem- 
bled, shall make a list of the votes as they shall appear from 
the said certificates; and the votes having been counted, the 
result of the same shall be delivered to the President of the 
Senate, who shall thereupon announce the state of the vote 
and the names of the persons, if any, elected; which an- 
nouncement shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the 
persons elected President and Yice-President of the United 
States, and, together with a list of the votes, be entered on 
the journals of the two Houses. If, upon the reading of any 
such certificate by the tellers, any question shall arise in re- 
gard to counting the votes therein certified, the same having 
been stated by the Presiding Officer, the Senate sh-all there- 
upon withdraw, and said question shall be submitted to that 
body for its decision; and the Speaker of the House of Repre- 
sentatives shall, in like manner, submit said question to the 
House of Representatives for its decision; and no question 
shall be decided affirmatively, and no vote objected to shall 
be counted, except by the concurrent votes of the two 
Houses; which being obtained, the two Houses shall imme- 
diately reassemble, and the Presiding Officer shall then an- 
nounce the decision of the question submitted, and upon 
any such question there shall be no debate in either House; 
and any other question pertinent to the object for which 
the two Houses are assembled may be submitted and deter- 



JOINT RULES OF THE TWO HOUSES. 43 

mined in like manner. At such joint meeting of the two 
Houses seats shall be provided as follows: for the President 
of the Senate, the "Speaker's chair, " for the Speaker, a 
chair immediately upon his left; the Senators in the body 
of the hall, upon the right of the Presiding Officer; for the 
representatives, in the body of the hall not occupied by the 
Senators; for the tellers, Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk 
of the House of Representatives, at the Clerk's desk; for 
the other officers of the two Houses, in front of the Clerk' 3 
desk and upon either side of the Speaker's platform. Such 
joint meeting shall not be dissolved until the electoral votes 
are all counted and the result declared; and no recess shall 
be taken unless a question shall have arisen in regard to 
counting any of such votes, in which case it shall be com- 
petent for either House, acting separately, in the manner 
hereinbefore provided, to direct a recess, not beyond the 
next day at the hour of one o'clock p. m. 



ANALYTICAL INDEX 



TO THE 



RULES OF THE SENATE 



A. 



No. 



Absent himself from Senate, without leave first obtained. No member 

shall 8 

Absent members may be sent for, by less than a quorum, at the expense 
of such members, unless excused, and then paid out of the contingent 
fund 8 

Additional numbers of documents to be referred to the Committee on 

Printing. Motions to print , 34 

Address, or hear any such read. No person shall be admitted to present 

any petition, memorial, or 19 

ADJOURN, &c. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be 

received but to 11 

Adjournment shall always be in order, and shall be decided without 

debate. The motion for 11 

Adjournment. The substitution of a member to fill the chair shall not 

extend beyond an 23 

Adjournments. Special orders not to lose their position on the calendar 

on account of intervening 31 

Admit any person in Senate to present a petition, &c, &c. No motion in 

order to 19 

Admitted on the floor of the Senate. Description of persons (and none 

others) who shall be 47 

Agriculture, to consist of five members. A standing Committee on 34 

Alphabetically. In taking the yeas and nays, or on a call of the House, 

the names of the members taken 16 

Amend. When a question is under debate, no motion shall be received 
but to adjourn, to lie on the table, to postpone indefinitely, to postpone 
to a day certain, to commit, or to 11 

Amended until twice read, &c. No bill shall be 27 

Amendment. Any motion may be withdrawn before 10 

Amendments containing several points may be divided, but a motion to 
strike out and insert shall not be divided. The rejection of a motion 
to strike out and insert one proposition shall not prevent a motion to 
strike out and insert a different proposition, nor a motion simply to 
strike out, nor another motion to strike out and insert 2 



46 INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 

No. 

Amend the rules. One day's notice of a motion required to 53 

Amendments to the Constitution same as on bills, &c. The proceedings 
on 26 

Amendment. No amendment shall be received for discussion at a third 
reading of any bill, &c, unless by unanimous consent ; but such bill, 
&c, may be referred to a committee, and should an amendment be 
reported, the bill, &c, shall again be read a second time, &c, (see 
Mule)... 29 

Amendment shall be, " Whether it shall be engrossed and read a third 

time?" The final question on the second reading of any constitutional 29 

Amendment proposing additional appropriations shall not be received to 
any general appropriation bill, unless to carry out an existing law, or 
act, or resolution of the Senate previously passed during that session, 
or moved by a standing or select committee, or in pursuance of an 
estimate from the head of some of the departments ; and no amend- 
ment shall be received to provide for a private claim, unless it be to 
carry out an existing law or treaty stipulation 30 

Amendments to general appropriation bills, proposing new items of ap- 
propriation, shall, one day before they are offered, be referred to the 
Committee on Appropriations 30 

Amendments shall be inserted on the journals. The titles of bills and 

parts affected by 32 

Amendments to treaties. Forms of questions and proceedings on 38 

Amendment to be proposed to the Constitution is under consideration, the 
concurrence of two-thirds of the members present shall not be requisite 
to decide any question for amendments, or extending to the merits, being 
short of the final question. When an 44 

Appeal to the Senate. Every question of order shall be decided by the 

President, without debate, subject to an 6 

Appointment of all the committees (except the chairman of standing 

committees) a plurality of votes shall make a choice. In the 35 

Appointment of standing committees the Senate will proceed, by ballot, 
severally to appoint the chairman of each committee, and then, by one 
ballot, the other members necessary to complete the same; and a 
majority of the whole number of votes given shall be necessary to the 
choice of a chairman of a standing committee. All other committees 
shall be appointed by ballot, and a plurality of votes shall make a 
choice. In the 35 

Appointments. Executive, &c. (See Nominations,) 

Appropriation bill. Restrictions upon amendments to any general (see 

Amendment — Bule — Bill ) 30 

Appropriations to consist of seven members. A standing committee on. - 34 

Assignment of special orders according to the order of time for which 
they were assigned, and at which they Avere assigned, and over general 
orders 31 

Attendance of members required and absent members sent for, &c 8 



1NNEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 47 

No. 

Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate, to consist of 
three members, to whom shall he referred all resolutions directing the 
payment of money out of the contingent fund of the Senate, or creating 
a charge on the same. Standing Committee to 34 

Aye or No. The President of the Senate shall put all questions, and the 

members shall answer- 22 

B. 

Ballot, &c. All standing and other committees shall be appointed by . . 35 
Ballots are being counted, &c. Messengers are introduced in any state 

of business, except while the 46 

Bill, resolution, &c, has gone out of possession of the Senate. No motion 

for reconsideration shall be in order after a 20 

Bill. One day's notice shall be given for asking leave to introduce a 25 

Bills reported by a committee shall, after first reading, be printed 25 

Bill shall receive three readings before being passed. Each 20 

Bill, which readings shall be on different days, unless Senate unanimously 

direct otherwise. The President shall give notice at first, second, and 

third reading of each 26 

Bills. All resolutions requiring the signature of the President, or granting 

money out of contingent or other fund, shall be treated as 26 

Bill shall be committed or amended until it shall have been twice read, 

after which it may be committed. No 27 

Bills on a second reading shall first be considered as in Committee of the 

Whole before being considered in Senate, unless otherwise ordered. 

All 28 

Bill in Committee of the Whole, the Vice-President, or President pro 

tempore, may call a member to fill the chair, &c. When the Senate 

shall consider a 28 

Bill originating in the Senate shall be, " Whether it shall be engrossed 

and read a third time V The final question on the second reading of 

every 29 

Bill, unless by unanimous consent of the members present. No amendment 

shall be received for discussion at the third reading of any 29 

Bill, to move its commitment. It shall at all times be in order, before the 

final passage of any 29 

Bills reported with any amendment, after such commitment, shall be again 

read a second time and considered as in Committee of the Whole, and 

then the question shall again be put, " Whether it shall be engrossed 

and read a third time V 7 29 

Bill is under consideration, it shall be in order to move, as a substitute for 

it, a resolution of the Senate referring the case to the Court of Claims. 

Whenever a private 29 

Bill, unless to carry out the provisions of some existing law, or act, or 

resolution previously passed by the Senate, during that session, or 

moved by direction of a standing or select committee of the Senate, or 



48 INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 

No. 
in pursuance of an estimate from the head of some of the departments ; 
and no amendment shall be received whose object is to provide for a 
private claim, unless it be to carry out the provisions of an existing 
law or a treaty stipulation. No amendment proposing additional ap- 
propriations shall be received to any general appropriation 30 

Bills and such parts only as shall be affected by proposed amendments 

shall be inserted on the journals. The titles of 32 

Bill or otherwise. The standing committees of the Senate shall be ap- 
pointed at the commencement of each session, with leave to report by . . 34 

Bills, to consist of three members, whose duty it shall be to examine all 
bills, &c, before they go out of the possession of the Senate, and de- 
liver same to Secretary of the Senate, to be entered on the journal as 
correctly engrossed. A Committee on Engrossed 34 

Bills to be printed without being referred to the Committee on Printing. . 34 

Bills, to consist of three members. A Committtee on Enrolled 34 

Blanks the largest sum and longest time shall be first put. In filling 13 

Books (or journals.) The legislative proceedings, the executive proceed- 
ings, and the confidential legislative proceedings of the Senate, shall 
be kept in separate and distinct 42 

Business of Senate not to be interrupted by talking, reading newspapers, 

or otherwise 2 

Business at preceding adjournment shall have preference in the special 

orders of the day. The unfinished 15 

Business requiring secrecy the doors shall be shut, &c. On the discussion 

of 18 

Business in the Senate. Order of morning 24 

Business except while a question is being put, while the yeas and nays 
are being called, or while the ballots are being counted. Messengers 
are introduced in any state of the 46 

Business to be continued from session to session of a Congress 52 

C. 

Calendar on account of intervening adjournments. Special orders not to 

lose their position on the 31 

Call of the House, the names taken alphabetically. Upon a 16 

Capitol, and of its passages, as are or may be set apart for the use of the 
Senate and its officers. The Presiding Officer of the Senate shall have 

the regulation of such parts of the -\ 48 

Casting vote. When the Senate are equally divided the President shall 

give the 21 

Chair, and, a quorum being present, the business proceeds. The President 

takes the 1 

Chair. Every member, when he speaks, shall address the 3 

Chair. Every member, rising to speak, shall address the 3 

Chair shall speak first, the Chair to name the member. The member who 

shall first rise and address the 5 



INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 49 

No. 

Chair shall, or a member may, call to order when rules are transgressed. 

The 6 

Chair no member shall be permitted to vote. When the decision shall be 

announced by the . - 17 

Chair, but such substitution shall not extend beyond an adjournment. 
The Vice-President, or President pro tempore, shall have the right to 
name a member to perform the duties of the 23 

Chair during the time the Senate shall remain in Committee of the Whole; 
and the chairman so called shall, during such time, have the powers 
of a President pro tempore. When the Senate shall consider a treaty, 
bill, or resolution, as in Committee of the Whole, the Vice-President, 
or President pro tempore, may call a member to fill the 28 

Chair to take up such special order, and it shall be considered unless post- 
poned by a vote of the Senate. When the hour has arrived for the 
consideration of a special order, it shall be the duty of the 31 

Chairmax of the Committee of the Whole shall, during the time of remain- 
ing in such committee, have the powers of a President pro tempore. 
The 23 

Chairmax of each standing committee, the Senate shall proceed by ballot, 
and a majority of the whole number of votes given shall be necessary 
to a choice. In the appointment of the 35 

Character or qualification of any person nominated by the President to 
office shall be kept secret. All information or remarks touching or 
concerning the 40 

Claims in appropriation bills. Restrictions upon amendments providing 

for private 30 

Claims, to consist of five members. A standing Committee on 34 

Claims reported against and rejected. Restriction on the presentation of. . 49 

Claim is presented to the Senate and" referred to a committee, and the com- 
mittee report that the claim ought not to be allowed, and the report be 
adopted by the Senate, it shall not be in order to move to take the 
papers from the files for the purpose of referring them at subsequent 
sessions, unless the claimants shall present a memorial for that pur- 
pose, stating in what manner the committee have erred in their report, 
or that new evidence has been discovered since the report, and setting 
forth the new evidence in the memorial : Provided, That this rule shall 
not extend to any case where an adverse report, not in writing, shall 
have been made prior to January 25, 1842. Whenever a 49 

Commerce, to consist of seven members. A standing Committee on 34 

Committees of the Senate. Appointment of, (see Standing Committees — 

see Bute) 34 

Committees. ( See Beports of.) 

Committees, (except the chairman of standing committees, who shall be 
appointed by a majority,) a plurality of votes shall make a choice. 
In the appointment by ballot of all of the 35 

4 



50 INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE 

No. 

Committee shall first be put. When motions are made for reference of the 
same subject to a select committee, and to a standing committee, the 
question on reference to the standing 36 

Committee, any other subject or matter of a similar nature may, on mo- 
tion, be referred to such committee. When any subject or matter shall 
have been referred to a 35 

Committed or amended, until twice read, after which it may be referred to 

a committee. No bill shall be 27 

Committee to be printed after first reading. All bills reported by a 25 

Committees to be called for in morning business after petitions, &c. Re- 
ports of standing 24 

Commit or to amend, &c, &c. When a question is under debate, no mo- 
tion shall be received but to adjourn or to 11 

Committee have erred in their report, or that new evidence has been dis- 
covered. Not in order to move to refer a claim which has been re- 
ported upon adversely and rejected, unless it can be shown that the ... 49 

Committees shall lie on the table one day for consideration. All reports 

of . 26 

Committee of the Senate may be received to a general appropriation bill. 

An amendment moved by a standing or select 30 

Committee of the Whole, before being considered in the Senate, unless 
otherwise ordered. All bills on a second reading shall first be con- 
sidered by the Senate as a 28 

Committee of the Whole, the Vice-President, or President pro tern., may 
call a member to fill the chair during the time it shall remain in Com- 
mittee of the Whole, and the chairman so called shall, during such 
time, have the powers of a President pro tempore. When the Senate 
shall consider a treaty, bill, or resolution, as in 28 

Committee of the Whole. Should a bill on third reading be committed 
and reported with an amendment, it shall again be read a second time 
and considered in 29 

Committee of the Whole. The second reading of a treaty shall be for 

consideration on a subsequent day in 38 

Committee of the Whole to be entered on the journal, but every vote of 
the Senate shall be entered on the journal. The proceedings of the 
Senate when not acting as in 33 

Commitment. It shall always be in order, before the final passage of any 

bill, &c, &c, to move its 29 

Commitment take place, and the committee report an amendment, the bill, 

&c, shall again be read a second time, &c. And should such 29 

Communications from the President to be kept secret, &c. Confidential- 39 

CONCUR in a resolution to suspend the 16th and 17th joint rules shall 
always be in order, immediately considered, and decided without de- 
bate. A motion to 53 

Confidential business, &c, the President shall direct the gallery to be 



INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 51 

No. 
cleared. On a motion made and seconded to shut the doors on the 

discussion of 18 

Confidential or executive business, the Senate shall be cleared of all 
persons except the Secretary, the principal or executive clerk, the ser- 
geant-at-arms, and doorkeeper and the assistant doorkeeper. When 
acting on 41 

Confidential communications made by the President of the United States 
to the Senate shall be by the members thereof kept secret; and all 
treaties which may be laid before the Senate shall also be kept secret 
until the Senate shall, by their resolution, take off the injunction of 
secrecy. All 39 

Confidence of the Senate. Penalty of an officer or member for violating 
the 50 

Confidently legislative proceedings of the Senate shall be kept in separate 
and distinct books. The legislative proceedings, the executive proceed- 
ings, and the 42 

Consent. Bills may be read more than once on the same day by unani- 
mous 26 

Consent. Nominations may be considered the same day, when received 

by unanimous 37 

Consideration, and also reports of committees. All resolutions (not 

joint) shall lie on the table one day for 26 

Consideration of a special order, it shall be the duty of the Chair to take 

it up. When the time has arrived for the 31 

Consideration, they shall take precedence according to the order of time 
at which they were severally assigned. When two or more subjects 
shall have been specially assigned for 31 

Consideration. When nominations shall be made in writing by the 
President of the United States to the Senate, a future day shall be 
assigned, unless the Senate unanimously direct otherwise, for taking 
them into 37 

Consideration in Committee of the Whole and on a subsequent day. The 

second reading of a treaty shall be for 38 

Consideration, the concurrence of two-thirds, &c, shall not be requisite, 
except on the final question. When an amendment to the Constitution 
is under 44 

Considered in Committee of the Whole, unless otherwise ordered. All 

bills on second reading shall be 28 

Consldered as in Committee of the Whole. Should a bill on third reading 
be committed, and an amendment reported, it shall be again read a 
second time and 29 

Consldered, and decided without debate. A motion to suspend the 16th 

and 17th joint rules shall always be in order, immediately 53 

Constitution same as on bills, &c. Proceedings on amendments to the. . 26 

Constitutional amendment shall be, "Whether it shall be engrossed and 

read a third time." The final question on the second reading of any.. 29 



52 INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 

No. 

Constitution is under consideration, the concurrence of two-thirds of the 
members present shall not be requisite to decide any question for 
amendments, or extending to the merits, being short of the final ques- 
tion. When an amendment to be proposed to the 44 

Contingent fund, if excused by the Senate. The expenses of sending for 

absent Senators shall be paid out of the 8 

Contingent or any other fund shall be treated as bills, &c. All resolu- 
tions, &c, granting money out of the 26 

Contingent fund of the Senate, or creating a charge on the same. The 
standing Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of 
the Senate, to consist of three members, to whom shall be referred all 
resolutions directing the payment of money out of the 34 

Continuation of the legislative business of the Senate from session to 

session of a Congress 52 

Convened by the President of the United States to any other place, the 
President of the Senate and Senators shall attend at the place ap- 
pointed, &c. When the Senate shall be 37 

Conventions lawfully called of the States, not referred to the Committee 

on Printing. Motions to print documents from legislatures or 34 

Conversation between members not allowed to interrupt the business 

of the Senate 2 

Corrected. The journal read at commencement of each day's session, to 

the end that mistakes may be 1 

Court of Claims. Whenever a private bill is under consideration, it shall 
be in order to move as a substitute for it a resolution of the Senate 
referring the case to the 29 

D. 

Debate shall not be interrupted by talking, reading newspapers, &c 2 

Debate. No member shall interrupt another when speaking in 2 

Debate shall stand in his place and address the Chair, and when finished 

shall sit down. Every member speaking in 3 

Debate, on same day, without leave of Senate. No member shall speak 

more than twice in any one 4 

Debate shall speak first. The member first rising in 5 

Debate, subject to an appeal to the Senate. Questions of order decided 

by the President without 6 

Debate, they shall be taken down in writing, that the President may 

judge. When exceptionable words are spoken in 7 

Debate contains several points, it may be divided, &c. If a question in. . 12 
Debate at a third reading, unless by unanimous consent. No amendment 

received for discussion or 29 

Debate. When the yeas and nays are called, each member shall answer 

without 16 

Debate on the merits of the question on a motion to take up a subject not 

allowed 



INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 53 

No. 

Debate shall transgress the rules he shall be called to order. If any mem- 
ber in 6 

Debate no motion shall be received but to adjourn, &c. &c. When a 

question is under 11 

Debate. A motion for adjournment shall always be in order, and shall 

be determined without 11 

Debate. When the reading of a paper is called for aud objected to, it 

shall be determined by a vote of the Senate and without 14 

Debate. A motion to suspend the 16th and 17th joint rules always in 

order, immediately considered, and decided without 53 

Debate on business requiring secrecy, the doors shall be shut. On a 18 

Debated until seconded. No motion shall be 9 

Debated. Motions seconded, reduced to writing if desired, delivered in 

at table, and read before being 10 

Decision. Any motion may be withdrawn before a 10 

Decision is announced from the Chair, no member shall be permitted to 

vote. When the 17 

Decision of the President. When the Senate are equally divided, the 

Secretary shall take the 21 

Department may be received to a general appropriation bill. An amend- 
ment in pursuance of an estimate from the head of some executive 30 

Departments to be referred to the Committee on Printing. Motions to 

print documents from the executive 34 

District of Columbia, to consist of seven members. A standing Com- 
mittee on the 34 

Discussion. (See Debate.) 

Divided. A question containing several points may be 12 

Divided, &c. A motion to strike out and insert shall not be 12 

Divided, the Secretary shall take the decision of the President. When 

the Senate are equally 21 

Document shall be printed for the Senate without special order, except a 

bill reported by a committee. No paper or 25 

Documents, reports, &c, the printing of which shall be moved, shall be 
referred to the Committee on Printing, (with exceptions as stated in 
rule.) (SeeBule.) All 34 

Doors, on discussion of business requiring secrecy in the opinion of a 
member, the President shall order the gallery to be cleared, and the 
doors shall remain shut during the discussion. On a motion made 
and seconded to shut the 18 

DOORS of the Senate to present a petition, &c. No motion in order to 

admit any person within the 19 

DOORS of the Senate chamber. Description of persons (and none others) 

who shall be admitted on the lloor of or within the 47 

Drawings ordered to be printed shall be directed and procured by the 

Committee on Printing. Maps and 34 



54 INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 

No. 

E. 

Engrossed and read a third time." The final question on the second 

reading of every bill, &c, shall be " Whether it shall be 29 

ENGROSSED Bills, to consist of three members, whose duty it shall be to 
examine all bills, amendments, resolutions, or motions, before they go 
out of tbe possession of the Senate ; and shall deliver the same to the 
Secretary of the Senate, who shall enter upon the journal that the same 
have been correctly engrossed. A standing Committee on 34 

Enrolled Bills, to consist of three members. A standing Committee on. 34 

Equally divided, the Secretary shall take the decision of the President. 

When the Senate are 21 

Errors or mistakes may be corrected. Journal read daily, to end that 

any 1 

Estimate from the head of a department may be received to a general 

appropriation bill. An amendment in pursuance of an 30 

Estimate of the probable cost. Reports from the Committee on Printing 
in favor of printing additional numbers of any document shall be ac- 
companied by an 34 

Examined by the committee of the Senate on. Engrossed bills of the 

Senate 34 

Exceptionable words used by a Senator, if called to order, shall be taken 

down in writing 7 

Excuse for non-attendance to be made by members sent for, or they shall 

pay the expenses 8 

Excused from voting. For special reason a member may be 16 

Executive departments, to be referred to the Committee on Printing. Mo- 
tions to print documents from 34 

Executive business to be decided without debate. Motion to proceed to 

the consideration of 11 

Executive business, the President shall direct the gallery to be cleared, 
and during the discussion of such motion the doors shall remain shut. 
On a motion made and seconded to shut the doors on the discussion of 
any business which may, in the opinion of a member, require secrecy, 
or on confidential or 18 

Executive business. Action of the Senate on nominations and 37 

Executive business. Action of the Senate on treaties and 38 

Executive business. Secrecy enjoined on confidential and 39 

Executive business. Secrecy enjoined respecting information or remarks 
relative to the character, &c, of persons nominated by the President, 
being 40 

Executive business, the Senate shall be cleared of all persons, except the 
Secretary of the Senate, the principal or the executive clerk, the ser- 
geant-at-arms, and doorkeeper and assistant doorkeeper. When acting 
on confidential or 41 



INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 55 

No. 

Executive clerk admitted in secret session 41 

Executive proceedings; and the confidential legislative proceedings shall 
be kept in separate and distinct books. The legislative proceedings, 

the 42 

Executive records of the Senate, but no further extracts from the execu- 
tive journal shall be furnished except by special order. The President 
of the United States shall; from time to time, be furnished with an 

authenticated transcript of the 43 

Expulsion of a member for violating the confidence of the Senate 50 

Extract from the executive journal shall be furnished except by special 
order. The President shall, from time to time, be furnished with an 
authenticated transcript of the executive records of the Senate, and 
all nominations approved or definitely acted on by the Senate shall be 
returned by the Secretary on the next day after such proceedings may 
occur, but no further 43 

F. 

Files for the purpose of referring them at a subsequent session, unless 
error in report or new evidence be produced. Not in order to move to 

take the papers of a rejected claim from the 49 

Filling up blanks, the largest sum and longest time shall first be put. In 13 

Finance, to consist of seven members. A standing Committee on 34 

FLOOR of the Senate. Description of persons (and none others) who shall 

be admitted on the 47 

Foreign Relations, to consist of seven members. A standing Committee 

on 34 

O. 

Gallery to be cleared. On a motion made and seconded to shut the 

doors, the President shall order the 18 

General orders. Special orders to take precedence of 31 

Grant money out of the contingent or any other fund shall be treated as 

bills. All resolutions, &c, which may 26 

H. 

HOUR has arrived for the consideration of a special order, it shall be the 

duty of the Chair to take it up, &c. When the 31 

House, the names taken alphabetically. Upon a call of the 16 

House of Representatives by the Secretary, who shall previously indorse 
the final determination of the Senate thereon. Messages shall be sent 
to the 45 

I. 

INDIAN Affairs, to consist of seven members. A standing Committee on.. 34 



56 INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 

No. 

Information or remarks concerning the character or qualifications of 
persons nominated, to be kept secret 40 

Injunction of secrecy. All confidential communications and treaties 
shall be kept secret until the Senate shall, by their resolution, take off 
the 39 

Insert shall not be divided. A motion to strike out and 12 

Insert. (See Strike Out.) Motion to strike out and 12 

J. 

Joint rules always in order, be immediately considered, and be decided 
. without debate. A motion to suspend the sixteenth and seventeenth.. 53 

Joint resolutions the same as on bills. Action on. (See Bills.) 

Journal of the preceding day shall be read, to the end that any mistake 
may be corrected. The President having taken the chair, and a quo- 
rum being present, the 1 

JOURNAL or papers are being read no interruption to be made. While the 2 

Journal is read. Morning business after the 24 

Journals. The titles of bills and parts affected by amendments to be 

inserted on the 32 

Journal as concisely as possible, care being taken to detail a true and 
accurate account of the proceedings ; but every vote of the Senate 
shall be entered on the journal, and a biief statement of the contents 
of each petition, memorial, or paper presented to the Senate, shall also 
be inserted on the journal. The proceedings of the Senate, when not 
acting as in Committee of the Whole, shall be entered on the 33 

Journal. Engrossed bills examined by the committee shall be entered by 

the Secretary of the Senate as correctly engrossed upon the 34 

Journals. The legislative proceedings, the executive proceedings, and 
the confidential legislative proceedings of the Senate, shall be kept in 
separate and distinct books or 42 

JOURNAL of the Senate ; but no further extract from the executive journal 
shall be furnished except by special order. The President of the 
United States shall from time to time be furnished with an authenti- 
cated transcript of the executive records or 43 

Judiciary, to consist of seven members. A standing Committee on the.. 34 

L. 

Largest sum and longest time first put. In filling up the blanks the 13 

Leave of the Senate. No member shall speak more than twice in any one 

debate, on the same day, without - 4 

Leave of the Senate. A member called to order when speaking, for trans- 
gressing the rules, cannot proceed without 6 

Leave of absence first obtained. No member shall absent himself from 

service of Senate without 8 

LEAVE of the Senate required to withdraw a motion' to reconsider 10 



INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 57 

No. 

Leave to bring in a bill. One day's notice required for 25 

Legislative business to be continued from session to session of a Congress 52 

Legislative proceedings, the executive proceedings, and the confidential 
legislative proceedings of the Senate, shall be kept in separate and dis- 
tinct books. The 42 

Legislatures or conventions lawfully called of the States, not referred to 

the Committee on Printing. Motions to print documents from the 34 

Lie on the table, &c, &c. ; &c. When a question is under debate no mo- 
tion shall be received but to 11 

Lie on the table one day for consideration. All resolutions and reports of 
committee shall 26 

Longest time first put. In filling up blanks the largest sum and 13 

3¥ff. 

Majority of members present, may send for absent members. Less than 

a quorum, but a 8 

Majority may move a reconsideration. A member of the 20 

Majority of the whole number of votes given necessary to the appoint- 
ment of a chairman of a standing committee. A 35 

Majority of votes. When two-thirds are requisite to carry the affirma- 
tive, any member who votes on that side which prevailed in the ques- 
tion may move for a reconsideration, which shall be decided by a 20 

Manufactures, to consist of five members. A standing Committee on.. 34 

Maps and drawings ordered to be printed shall be directed and obtained by 

the Committee on Printing 34 

Meetings of the Senate. Opening or commencement of daily 1 

Meeting of the Senate at the commencement or during any session, absent 
members may be sent for, &c. In case a less number than a quorum 
attend at the time to which the Senate stood adjourned, or at a 8 

Member shall speak to another or otherwise interrupt the business of the 
Senate, or read any newspaper while the journals are being read, or 
when any member is speaking in debate. No 2 

Member rising to speak shall address the Chair, stand at his place, and sit 

down when finished. Every 3 

Member shall speak more than twice in any one debate, on the same lay, 

without leave of the Senate. No 4 

Members rise to speak the President shall name the one to speak first ; but 
in all cases the member rising and addressing the Chair first shall speak 
first. When two 5 

Member may call another to order who shall transgress the rules. Any. . 6 

Member called to order for transgressing the rules shall sit down and not 

proceed without leave. Any 6 

Member called to order by a Senator shall be taken down in writing, to 

enable the President to judge. The exceptionable words of a 7 

Member shall absent himself from the service of the Senate without leave 

of the Senate first obtained, &c. No 8 



58 INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 

No. 
Members present, may send for absent members. Less than a quorum, 

but a majority of the 8 

Members. The sergeant-at-arms, or other authorized person, may be sent 

for absent 8 

Member. A motion seconded shall be reduced to writing, if desired by a. 10 

Member may have a question containing several points divided. A 12 

Member, it shall be determined by a vote of the Senate without debate. 

When the reading of a paper is called for, and objected to by a 14 

Members present may call for the yeas and nays. One-fifth of the 16 

Members to be taken alphabetically. In taking yeas and nays, or on a 

call of the House, the names of the 16 

Member shall answer without debate unless, for special reason, he be ex- 
cused. When the yeas and nays are called, each 16 

Member permitted to vote after decision is announced from the Chair. 

When a question is taken by yeas and nays no 17 

Member, require secrecy, the doors shall, on his motion, when seconded, 

be shut. On the discussion of business w T hich may, in the opinion of a . 18 

Member of the majority may move a reconsideration. A 20 

Members shall signify their assent or dissent by answering aye or no. 
The President of the Senate shall put every question, either in presence 
or absence of the President of the United States, and the 22 

Member to the chair, not to extend beyond an adjournment. The appoint- 
ment by the President of a 23 

Member, before presenting a petition, &c, to make a brief verbal state- 
ment of its contents. A 24 

Member shall object at the time to the reference of a petition, as matter of 

course, then the question on reference to be taken. When a 24 

Member to fill the chair while the Senate is in Committee of the Whole. 

The Vice-President or President pro tempore may call a 28 

Members present. On the third reading of any bill, &c, no amendment 

shall be received unless by the unanimous consent of the 29 

Members shall attend at the place appointed. When the Senate shall be 
convened by the President of the United States to any other place, the 
President of the Senate and 37 

Member shall be free to move an amendment to a treaty on its second 

reading, &c. Every 38 

Members present shall be requisite to decide a question affirmatively. In 

proceedings upon treaties two-thirds of the 38 

Member shall again be free to move amendments, &c. When the proceed- 
ings on a treaty shall be reduced to the form of a ratification, every. . . 38 

Members thereof, be kept secret until the Senate shall, by their resolution, 
take off the injunction of secrecy. All confidential communications 
and treaties laid before the Senate by the President shall, by the 39 

Members present shall not be requisite to decide any question for amend- 
ments, or extending to the merits, being short of the final question. 
When an amendment to be proposed to the Constitution is under con- 
sideration, the concurrence of two-thirds of the 44 



INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 59 

No. 

Member who votes on that side which prevailed may move for a reconsider- 
ation, which shall be decided by a majority of votes. When two-thirds 
are requisite, any 20 

Members of the Senate shall be allowed on the floor of the Senate during 

a session, except those specified in this rule. No persons but 47 

Member of the Senate convicted of disclosing for publication any written 
or printed matter directed by the Senate to be held in confidence, shall 
be liable, if an officer, to dismissal from the service of the Senate, and 
in the case of a member, to suffer expulsion from the body. Any 
officer or 50 

Memorial, or address, or hear any such read. No motion shall be in order 
to admit any person within the doors of the Senate chamber to read a 
petition - 19 

Memorial or petition shall be presented, and before being received and 
read at the table, a brief statement of its contents shall be verbally 
made. At the time when a 24 

Memorial, or paper, shall be inserted on the journal. A brief statement 

of the contents of each petition 33 

Memorial stating how the committee have erred, or that new evidence has 
been discovered, &c. Not in order to take papers of a rejected claim 
from the files for reference, unless the claimant shall present a 49 

Memorials, &c. (See Petitions.) 

Messages shall be sent to the House of Representatives by the Secretary, 
who shall previously indorse the final determination of the Senate 
thereon 45 

Messengers are introduced at any stage of business, except while a ques- 
tion is being put, while the yeas and nays are being called, or while 
the ballots are being counted 46 

Military Affairs and the Militia, to consist of seven members. A standing 

Committee on 34 

Mines and Mining, to consist of seven members. A standing Committee 

on 34 

Minutes of the Senate. When the Senate shall be convened by the Presi- 
dent in any other place, the Secretary of the Senate shall also attend to 
take the 37 

Mistake may be corrected. Journal to be read, to the end that any 1 

Money out of the contingent or any other fund shall be treated as bills. 

All resolutions, &c, which may grant 26 

MORNING business. Business at the commencement of the session, or 1 

Morning business after the journal is read. Order of the 24 

Motion shall be debated until seconded. No 9 

Motion made and seconded shall be written, if desired, delivered in at the 

table, and read before debated. A 10 

Motion may be withdrawn before decision, amendment, or ordering of 
yeas and nays, except a motion to reconsider, which shall not be with- 
drawn without leave. A ■. 10 



60 INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE 

No. 

Motion shall be received but to — 1, adjourn ; 2, to lie on the table ; 3, to 
postpone indefinitely ; 4, to postpone to a day certain ; 5, to commit ; 
or, 6, to amend, in the order here stated. When a question is under 
debate no 11 

Motion for adjournment shall always be in order, and shall be decided 

without debate. A 11 

Motion to strike out and insert shall not be divided. A 12 

MOTION to strike out and insert one proposition shall not prevent a motion 
to strike out and insert a different proposition, nor a motion simply to 
strike out; nor shall the rejection of a motion to strike out prevent a 
motion to strike out and insert. A 12 

Motion in filling blanks is for largest sum and longest time. The privi- 
leged 13 

Motion made and seconded to shut the doors, &c, the President shall 

direct the gallery to be cleared. On a 18 

MOTION not in order to admit any person in Senate to present any petition, 

memorial, or address, or to hear any such read. A 19 

Motion for reconsideration may be made by one of a majority before sub- 
ject has gone out of possession of Senate, if made same day or within 
two next days of actual session thereafter. A 20 

MOTION for reconsideration not in order after subject has gone out of pos- 
session of the Senate, except a resolution confirming or rejecting a 
nomination, nor after two days of actual session from time of vote. A. 20 

Motion to reconsider a nomination, where the resolution confirming or re- 
jecting it has been sent to the President, shall always be accompanied 
by a motion requesting the President to return the same to the Senate. A 20 

Motion for leave to bring in a bill. One day's notice at least shall be given 

of a 25 

Motion to suspend, or to concur in a resolution of the House of Repre- 
sentatives to suspend, the 16th and 17th joint rules, or either of them, 
shall always be in order, be immediately considered, and be decided 
without debate. A 53 

MOTION requiring three readings previous to being passed shall be 
"Whether it shall be engrossed and read a third time?" The final 
question on any 29 

Motions to print certain documents, referred to the Committee on Printing 34 

Motions to print other documents and bills, not referred to the Committee 

on Printing 34 

MOTIONS to print additional documents, referred to the Committee on 

Printing 34 

MOTIONS to print by order of standing committees, not referred to the 

Committee on Printing 34 

Motion, be referred to such committee. When any subject or matter 
shall have been referred to a committee, any other subject or matter of 
a similar nature may, on 35 



INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 61 

No. 

Motions are made for reference of the same subject to a select committee, 
and to a standing committee, the question on reference to the standing 
committee shall first be put. When 36 

Motion to reject, ratify, or modify a treaty on the first reading shall be 

received. No 38 

Motion for reconsideration, and it shall be decided by a majority of votes. 
When a question is decided by two-thirds, any member on the side 
tbat prevailed may make a 20 

W. 

Nays. (See Yeas and Nays.) 

Naval Affairs, to consist of seven members. A standing Committee on. . . 34 

Newspaper, &c, while the journal is being read, or a member is speaking. 

No- member shall read any 2 

Nominations confirmed or rejected may be reconsidered after the resolution 
announcing the decision of the Senate has been sent to the President ; 
but all motions to reconsider such nominations must be accompanied 
by a motion requesting the President to return the same to the Senate. 20 

Nominations shall be made in writing by the President of the United States 
to the Senate, a future day shall be assigned, unless the Senate unani- 
mously direct otherwise, for taking them into consideration. When.. 37 

Nominations neither approved nor rejected during the session at which 
they are made, shall not be acted upon at any succeeding session with- 
out being again made by the President 37 

Nominated by the President to office shall be kept secret. All information 
or remarks touching or concerning the character or qualifications of any 
person 40 

Nominations approved or definitely acted on by the Seriate shall be re- 
turned to the President by the Secretary on the next day after such 
proceedings may occur, unless otherwise ordered 43 

Notice, at least, shall be given of an intended motion for leave to bring in 

a bill, &c. One day's 25 

Notice at each reading of a bill or joint resolution, &c. The President 

shall give 26 

O. 

Oath or affirmation prescribed by act of July 2, 1882, to be taken and 
subscribed by every Senator, and by the Secretary, in open Senate, 
before entering upon their duties 51 

Objected to by a member at the time, the question on reference to be 

taken When the reference of a petition, &c, as a matter of course, is . . 24 

Objection is made to reading a paper, it shall be determined by a vote of 

the Senate, and without debate. When 14 

Officer or member of the Senate convicted of disclosing for publication 
any written or printed matter directed by the Senate to be held in con- 



62 INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 

No. 
fidence, shall be liable, if an officer, to dismissal from the service of 

the Senate, and, in the case of a member, to suffer expulsion from the 

body. Any 50 

Order shall not be interrupted by talking or reading newspapers, &c 2 

Order shall be decided by the President, without debate, subject to an 

appeal to the Senate. Every question of 6 

Order. The Chair may call for the sense of the Senate on any question of 6 

Order for transgressing the rules. The Chair shall, or a member may, 

call another to 6 

Order shall sit down and not proceed without leave of the Senate. A 

member called to 6 

Order by a Senator shall be taken down in writing to enable the President 

to judge. The exceptionable words of a member called to 7 

Order, and decided without debate. A motion for adjournment shall 

always be in 11 

Order to move for a division of the question. On motion to strike out 

and insert, it shall not be in 12 

Order to admit any person in Senate to present a petition, &c. No mo- 
tion in 19 

Order for a member of the majority to move a reconsideration, <&c, within 
two days of actual session, if the matter is still in possession of the 
Senate. It is in 20 

Order to move the reconsideration of a subject which has gone out of pos- 
session of the Senate, or when two next days of actual session shall 
have elapsed. It is not in 20 

Order to move the commitment of a bill, &c, before its final passage. 

It shall always be in 29 

Order to move, as a substitute for it, a resolution of the Senate referring 
the case to the Court of Claims. Whenever a private bill is under 
consideration, it shall be in 29 

Order, &c. A motion to suspend the 16th and 17th joint rules always in 53 

Order to move to take the papers of rejected claims from the files for the 
purpose of reference, without error in report or new evidence being 
produced. Not in 49 

Orders of the day. The unfinished business at preceding adjournment 

shall have preference in the special 15 

Order of special orders assigned, regulated, and fixed, and given prece- 
dence over general orders. The 31 

Order, special, not to be made without the concurrence of two-thirds 

present 31 

Order of the Senate for that purpose. No paper, except original treaties, 
&c, shall be returned or delivered from the office of the Secretary 
without an 43 

Order. An authenticated transcript of the executive records of the Senate 
shall be furnished, from time to time, to the President of the United 
States, but no further extract of the executive journal shall be furnished 
except by special 43 



INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 63 

No. 
Ordered. All bills on second reading shall be considered in Committee 

of the Whole before being considered in the Senate, unless otherwise.. 28 

F. 

Pacific Railroad, to consist of nine members. A standing Committee on 34 

Papers are being read no interruption to be made. While public 2 

Paper is called for and objected to, it will be decided by a vote of the 

Senate, and without debate. When the reading of a 14 

Paper or document shall be printed for the use of the Senate without 

special order, &c. No 25 

Paper, except original treaties, &c, shall be returned or delivered from 
the office of the Secretary without an order of the Senate for that pur- 
pose. No 43 

Papers of a rejected claim from the files for the purpose of referring them 
at a subsequent session, unless error in report or new evidence be 
produced. Not in order to move to take 49 

Passage of a bill, &c, to move its commitment, &c. It shall always be 

in order before the final 29 

Passages as are or may be set apart for the use of the Senate and its 
officers. The Presiding Officer of the Senate shall have the regulation 
of such parts of the Capitol and of its 48 

Passed, &c. Every bill and joint resolution shall receive three readings 

previous to being 26 

Patents and the Patent Office, to consist of five members. A standing 

Committee on 34 

Penalty of an officer or member for violating the confidence of the Senate 50 

Pensions, to consist of seven members. A standing Committee on 34 

Person or persons within doors of Senate to present any petition, memorial, 

or address, or to hear any such read. No motion in order to admit any 19 

Person nominated to office by the President shall be kept secret. All 
information or remarks touching or concerning the character or quali- 
fication of any 40 

Persons, except as stated in the rule. When acting on confidential or 

executive business, the Senate shall be cleared of all 41 

Persons (and none others) who shall be admitted on the floor of the Senate. 

Description of 47 

Petition, memorial, or address, or hear any such read. No motion in 

order to admit any person in the Senate chamber to present a 19 

Petitions, memorials, or papers, first called for in morning business, a 
brief statement of their contents to be made before reception, &c, and 
referred, of course, unless objected to, and then question taken. 24 

Petition, memorial, or paper presented to the Senate shall be inserted on 

the journal. A brief statement of the contents of each 33 

Plurality of votes sufficient for the appointment of all other committees 
than the chairman of standing committees, for whose appointment a 
majority is necessary 35 



64 INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 

No. 

Points may be divided. A question containing several 12 

Position on the calendar according to the order of time for which and at 

which they were assigned, and not to lose their position on account of 

intervening adjournments, &c. Special orders to have 31 

Post Offices and Post Roads, to consist of seven members. A standing 

Committee on 34 

Postpone indefinitely, to a day certain, &c. &c. (See Bule.) When a 

question is under debate, no motion shall be received but to 11 

Postpone to a day certain, &c. (See Bule.) When a question is under 

debate, no motion shall be received but to 11 

Postponed by direction of the Senate. Special orders to have precedence 

over general orders, unless 31 

Powers of a President pro tempore, &c. The chairman of a Committee 

of the Whole to have the 28 

Precedence of motions admissible, when a question is under debate, viz : 

1, to adjourn; 2, to lie on the table; 3, to postpone indefinitely; 4, to 

postpone to a day certain ; 5, to commit ; or, 6, to amend 11 

Precedence of special orders according to the order of time for which they 

were assigned, and at which they were assigned, and over general 

orders, &c. (See Bule) 31 

Preference in the special orders, &c. The unfinished business shall 

have the 15 

President of the Senate having taken the chair, and a quorum being 

present, the business proceeds. The 1 

President shall be addressed by every member rising to speak. The 3 

President shall name the person to speak ; but in all cases the member 

rising and addressing the Chair first shall speak first. When two 

members rise at the same time the - 5 

President shall call any member to order for transgression of rules. The 6 
President without debate, subject to appeal to Senate. Questions of order 

shall be decided by the 6 

President may call for the sense of the Senate on any question of order. 

The .* 6 

President to judge when a member, is called to order for exceptionable 

words, by their being taken down in writing. The 7 

President. A motion made and seconded shall be reduced to writing if 

desired by the 10 

President, or the Chair, no member shall be permitted to vote. When a 

decision is announced by the 17 

President shall direct the gallery to be cleared, &c. On a motion made 

and seconded to shut the doors the 18 

President. When the Senate are equally divided the Secretary shall take 

the decision of the 21 

President of the Senate shall put all questions in the presence or absence 

of the President of the United States. The 22 



INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 65 

No. 

President of the Senate pro tempore, shall have the right to name a mem- 
ber to perform the duties of the chair, but such substitution shall not 
extend beyond an adjournment. The Vice-President of the United 
States, or the 23 

President shall make a brief verbal statement of the contents of petitions, 

&c, presented by him. The 24 

President shall first call for petitions, &c. (See Rule.) In the morning 

business the 24 

President shall give notice at each reading of a bill or joint resolution 

whether it be the first, second, or third. The 26 

President pro tempore, may call a member to fill the chair, &c. When 
the Senate shall consider a treaty, bill, or resolution as in Committee of 
the Whole, the Vice-President, or 28 

President of the Senate, or the Chair, to take up such special order, and 
it shall be considered unless postponed by a vote of the Senate. When 
the hour has arrived for the consideration of a special order, it shall be 
the duty of the 31 

President of the Senate shall have a chair on the floor, be considerd as 
the head of the Senate, and his chair shall be assigned to the President 
of the United States. When the President of the United States shall 
meet the Senate in the Senate chamber, the 37 

President of the Senate and Senators shall attend at the place appointed, 
&c. (See Rule.) When the Senate shall be convened by the President 
of the United States to any other place, the 37 

Presiding Officer of the Senate shall have the regulation of such parts of 
the Capitol, and of its passages, as are or may be set apart for the use 
of the Senate and its officers. The 48 

President of the United States. The President of the Senate shall put all 

questions in the presence or absence of the 22 

President of the United States may be requisite, shall be treated as bills. 

All resolutions, &c, to which the approbation and signature of the ... 26 

President of the United States to the Senate, a future day shall be assigned, 
unless the Senate unanimously direct otherwise, for taking them into 
consideration. When nominations shall be made in writing by the. . . 37 

President of the United States. Nominations neither approved nor re- 
jected during the session at which they are made, shall not be acted 
upon at any succeeding session without being again made by the 37 

President of the United States shall meet the Senate in the Senate cham- 
ber, the President of the Senate shall have a chair on the floor, be con- 
sidered the head of the Senate, and his chair shall be assigned to the 
President of the United States. When the 37 

President of the United States to any other place, the President of the 
Senate and Senators shall attend at the place appointed. The Secretary 
of the Senate shall also attend to take the minutes of the Senate. When 
the Senate shall be convened by the 37 

5 



66 INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 

No. 

President of the United States shall be kept secret. All confidential com- 
munications and treaties from the 39 

President of the United States. Doors to be closed and secret session 

held on motion by a member when desired by the (joint rule) 22 

President to office shall be kept secret. All information or remarks 
touching or concerning the character or qualifications of any person 
nominated by the 40 

President of the United States shall, from time to time, be furnished with 
an authenticated transcript of the executive records of the Senate ; and 
all nominations approved or definitely acted on by the Senate shall be 
returned by the Secretary on the next day after such action is had unless 
otherwise ordered by the Senate ; but no further extract from the execu- 
tive journal shall be furnished, except by special order; and no paper, 
except original treaties, transmitted by the President of the United 
States or any executive officer, shall he returned or delivered from the 
office of the Secretary without an order from the Senate for that purpose. 
The 43 

Printed for the use of the Senate. All bills reported by a committee shall, 

after the first reading, be 25 

Printed for the use of the Senate without special order. But no other 

paper or document (than as above) shall be 25 

Printing, to consist of three members, to whom shall be referred every 
question on the printing of documents, reports, or other matter trans- 
mitted by either of the executive departments, and all memorials, 
petitions, accompanying documents, together with all other matter, 
the printing of .which shall be moved, excepting bills originating in Con- 
gress, resolutions offered by any Senator, communications from the legis- 
latures or conventions lawfully called of the respective States, and motions 
to print by order of the standing committees of the Senate ; motions to 
print additional numbers shall likewise be referred to said committee ; 
and when the report shall be in favor of printing additional numbers, 
it shall be accompanied by an estimate of the probable cost ; the said 
committee shall also supervise and direct the procuring of maps and 
drawings accompanying documents ordered to be printed. A Com- 
mittee on 34 

Printing shall also supervise and direct the procuring of maps and draw- 
ings accompanying documents ordered to be printed. The standing 
Committee on 34 

Private bill is under consideration it shall be in order to move, as a sub- 
stitute for it, a resolution of the Senate referring the case to the Court 
of Claims. Whenever a 29 

Private claim, unless it be to carry out the provisions of some existing 
law or treaty stipulation. No amendment shall be received to any 
general appropriation bill whose object is to provide for a 30 

Private Land Claims, to consist of five members. A standing Commit- 
tee on 34 



INNEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 67 

No. 
Privileged motions, when a question is under debate, and the order of 

their precedence 11 

Privilege of admission on the floor of the Senate. Description of persons 

allowed the 47 

Proceedings on them, in the Senate, as bills, &c. All joint resolutions, 

and resolutions granting money, shall be treated in the 26 

Proceedings of Senate, when not acting as in Committee of the Whole, 
to be entered on the journal, but every vote of the Senate shall be 
entered on the journal, &c. (See Rule) 33 

Proceedings of the Senate shall be kept in separate and distinct books. 
The legislative proceedings, the executive proceedings, and the confi- 
dential legislative 42 

Public Buildings and Grounds, to consist of five members, who shall have 
power to act jointly with the same committee of the House of Repre- 
sentatives. A standing Committee on the 34 

Public Lands, to consist of seven members. A standing Committee on the . 34 

Qualifications of persons nominated to be kept secret. Any remarks 

concerning the 40 

Questions of order decided by the President without debate, subject to 

appeal, and the Chair may call for the sense of the Senate upon them. 6 

Question is under debate no motion shall be received, except to adjourn, 

&c, &c. (SeeBule.) When a 11 

Question in debate contains several points, any member may have the 

same divided When a 12 

Question. On motion to strike out and insert, it shall not be in order to 

move for a division of the 12 

Question taken by yeas and nays each member shall vote, unless for 

special reasons he be excused. On every 16 

Question. When yeas and nays are called, each member shall declare 

openly, and without debate, his assent or dissent to the 16 

Question, no member shall be permitted to vote, &c. (See Rule.) When 

the decision shall have been announced from the Chair on a 17 

Question decided may be reconsidered, on motion by one of the majority, 
if made before the subject has gone out of possession of the Senate, and 
if made on same day or within two next days of actual session. A. . . 20 

Questions shall be put by the President of the Senate, in the presence or 
absence of the President of the United States, and the Senators shall 
answer aye or no. All 22 

Question, unless objected to, and then question on reference taken. Refer- 
ence of petitions, &c, to be made as a matter of course without 24 

Question upon the second reading of every bill, resolution, &c v requiring 
three readings, shall be, " Whether it shall be engrossed and read a 
thirdtimef' The final 29 



68 INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 

No. 

Question shall be again put, "Whether it shall be engrossed and read a 
third time f Should a bill on third reading be committed and an 
amendment reported, it shall again be read a second time, and the 29 

Question on the printing of documents, reports, or other matter, (except 
as stated in the rule, ) shall be referred to the Committee on Printing. 
Every - 34 

Question on reference to the standing committee shall first be put. When 
motions are made for reference of the same subject to a select committee 
and to a standing committee, the 36 

Questions on amendments to, and ratifications of treaties, (see Bule.) ' 
Forms of 38 

Question for amendments, or extending to the merits, being short of the 
final question. When an amendment of the Constitution is under 
consideration the concurrence of two-thirds shall not be requisite to 
decide any 44 

Question may have been decided by the Senate, in which two-thirds of 
the members present are necessary to carry the affirmative, any member 
who votes on that side which prevailed in the question may be at liberty 
to move for a reconsideration ; and a motion for reconsideration shall 
be decided by a majority of votes. When any 20 

Question may move for a reconsideration, which shall be decided by a 
majority of votes. When two-thirds are requisite, any member who 
votes on that side which prevailed in the 20 

Question is being put, while the yeas and nays are being called, or while 
the ballots are being counted. Messengers are introduced in any state 
of business, except while a 46 

QUORUM being present, the business will proceed. The President having 
taken the chair, and a 1 

Quorum, but a majority of those present, may send for absent Senators, 
who shall pay the expenses, unless excused when a quorum is con - 
vened. A less number than a 8 

R. 

Ratification of treaty, (see Treaty — see Bule) 33 

Ratification of amendments to treaties and of treaties. Questions on. 

(SeeiZuZe) 38 

Read, to the end that any mistakes may be corrected. The chair being 
taken, and a quorum present, the journal will be 1 

Read any newspaper, while journals or public papers are being read, or a 
member is speaking, &c. No member shall speak to another, or other- 
wise interrupt the business of the Senate, or 2 

Read, no interruption to be made. While the journal or public papers 

are being 2 

Read before debated. A motion seconded shall be written if desired, de- 
livered in at table, and 10 



INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 69 

No.' 

Read. No person shall be admitted in the Senate to present any petition, 

address, &c, or hear any such 19 

Read at the table. A brief statement of petitions, memorials, or papers to 

be made before being received or 24 

Read. [Morning] business after the journal is 24 

Read, after which it may be referred to a committee. No bill shall be 

committed until it shall have been twice 27 

Read a third time?" The final question on the second reading of every 

bill, &c, shall be, " Whether it shall be engrossed and 29 

Read a second time, &c. Should a bill, &c, on third reading, be com- 
mitted and an ameDdment reported, it shall again be 29 

Read a first time for information only . Every treaty 38 

Reading of a paper is called for and objected to, it shall be determined by 

a vote of the Senate and without debate. When the 14 

Reading. All bills reported by a committee to be printed after the first. . 25 

Readings previous to its being passed, and the President shall give notice 
whether it be the first, second, or third ; which readings shall be on 
different days, unless the Senate unanimously direct otherwise. Every 
bill shall receive three 26 

Reading shall first be considered in Committee of the Whole before being 

taken up in Senate, unless otherwise ordered. All bills on second 28 

Reading of any bill, resolution, &c, requiring three readings, shall be, 
"Whether it shall be engrossed and read a third time?" The final 
question upon the second 29 

Reading of any bill, &c, unless by unanimous consent; but it maybe 

committed, &c. No amendment received at a third 29 

Reading of a treaty shall be on a subsequent day, for consideration in 

Committee of the Whole. The second 38 

Received or read at the table. A brief statement of petitions, memorials, 

or papers to be made before being 24 

Received at the third reading of any bill, &c, unless by unanimous con- 
sent. No amendment 29 

Reconsider shall not be withdrawn without leave. A motion to 10 

Reconsideration not in order after a bill, resolution, message, report, 
amendment, or motion, upon which the vote was taken, shall have 
gone out of the possession of the Senate, announcing the decision, ex- 
cept a resolution confirming or rejecting a nomination. A motion for. . 20 

Reconsideration shall not be in order unless made on same day the vote 
was taken, or within the two next days of actual session of the Senate 
thereafter. A motion for 20 

Reconsideration of a nomination, if the resolution announcing the de- 
cision of the Senate has been sent to the President, shall always be 
accompanied by a motion requesting the President to return the same 
to the Senate. A motion for 20 

Reconsideration of a question decided may be made, on motion by one 
of the majority, before the subject has gone out of the possession of the 



70 INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 

No. 
Senate, if made same day or within two next days of actual session 
thereafter. A 20 

Reconsideration ; and a motion for reconsideration shall he decided by 
a majority of votes. When any question may have been decided by 
the Senate, in which two-thirds of the members present are necessary 
to carry the affirmative, any member who votes on that side which 
prevailed in the question may be at liberty to move for a 20 

Record of the Senate ; but no further extract from the executive journal 
shall be furnished, except by special order, &c. The President of the 
United States shall, from time to time, be furnished with an authenti- 
cated transcript of the executive 43 

Reference of petitions, memorials, and papers to committees, made as a 
matter of course, unless objected to, and then the question to be taken 
on the reference 24 

Reference to the standing committee shall first be put. When motions 
are made for reference of the same subject to a select committee and to 
a standing committee, the question on 36 

Referred to a committee. No bill shall be committed or amended until 

twice read, after which it may be 27 

Referred to the Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses 
of the Senate. Resolutions for payment of money out of, or creating a 
charge on, the contingent fund of the Senate shall be 34 

Referred to a committee, any other subject or matter of a similar nature 
may, on motion, be referred to such committee. When any subject or 
matter shall have been 35 

Referring them at subsequent sessions, unless error be stated to exist in 
the report, or new evidence be produced. Not in order to move to take , 
papers or rejected claims from the files for the purpose of 49 

Regulation of such parts of the Capitol as may be set apart for the use 
of the Senate and its officers. The Presiding Officer of the Senate shall 
have the 48 

Rejected claim from the files for reference, unless error in report or new 

evidence be produced. Not in order to take the papers of a 49 

Remarks touching or concerning the character or qualifications of any 
person nominated by the President to office shall be kept secret. All 
information or 40 

Reported by the committee, the bill, &c, shall again be read a second 
time, &c. Should a bill on the third reading be committed, and an 
amendment be 29 

Reports of committees to be called for after petitions in morning business . 24 

Reports of committees shall lie on the table one day for consideration. All 26 

REPORTS of the Committee on Printing, in favor of printing additional 

numbers, to be accompanied by an estimate of the cost 34 

REPORT of a committee, in writing, adverse to a claim to preclude its 
renewal, without error be shown in report, or new evidence produced, 
&c 



INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 71 

No. 

Resolution, as in Committee of the Whole, a chairman may be appointed, 

&c. When the Senate shall consider a 28 

Resolution, &c, requiring three readings, shall be, " Whether it shall 
be engrossed and read a third time V f The final question on the second 
reading of any bill 29 

Resolutions on third reading to be amended only by unanimous consent. 29 

Resolution of ratification of treaties. Forms of questions and proceedings 

on (see Bide) 38 

Resolution take off the injunction of secrecy. The Senate may by 39 

Resolutions proposing amendments to the Constitution, or to which the 
approbation of the President may be necessary, or which may grant 
money out of the contingent or any other fund, shall be treated, in all 
respects., in the introduction and form of proceedings on them in the 
Senate, in a similar manner with bills. All 26 

Resolutions (than the above) shall lie on the table one day for consider- 
ation, and also reports of committees. All other 26 

Resolutions directing the payment of money out of the contingent fund 
of the Senate, or creating a charge on the same, shall be referred to 
the Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses 34 

Resolutions the same as on bills. Action on joint. (See Bills.) 

Revolutionary Claims, to consist of five members. A standing Com- 
mittee on 34 

Rules, the President shall, or a member may, call to order. When a 

member shall transgress the 6 

Rules. One day's notice required for a motion to amend, suspend, or 

modify a rule 53 

S. 

Seat, or sit down. When a member has finished speaking he shall take 

his 3 

Seconded. No motion shall be debated until the same shall be 9 

Seconded shall be written, if desired by the President. Motions 10 

Seconded to shut the doors, the gallery shall be cleared, &c. On a motion 

made and 18 

Secrecy, the President shall order the gallery to be cleared, and the doors 
shall remain shut during the discussion. On motion made and seconded 
to shut the doors, on discussion of business whish may, in the opinion 

of a member, require 18 

Secrecy of the Senate. Penalty of an officer or member for violating the 

injunction of 50 

Secret ; and all treaties which may be laid before the Senate shall also be 
kept secret until the Senate shall, by their resolution, take off the 
injunction of secrecy. All confidential communications made by the 
President of the United States to the Senate shall be, by the members 
thereof, kept 39 



72 INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE 

Nov 

Secret. All information or remarks touching or concerning the character 
or qualifications of any person nominated by the President to office 
shall be kept a 40 

Secretary shall take the decision of the President. When the Senate are 

equally divided, the 21 

Secretary of the Senate shall enter engrossed bills as correctly engrossed 

upon the journal. The 34 

Secretary of the Senate shall also attend to take the minutes of the 
Senate. When the Senate shall be convened by the President of the 
United States to any other place, the President of the Senate and 
Senators shall attend at the place appointed ; the 37 

Secretary, the principal or executive clerk, the sergeant-at-arms, and 
doorkeeper, and the assistant doorkeeper. When acting on confidential 
or executive business, the Senate shall be cleared of all persons, except 
the 41 

Secretary, on the next day after such proceedings may occur, shall re- 
turn to the President of the United States all nominations approved or 
definitely acted on by the Senate 43 

Secretary without an order of the Senate for that purpose. No paper, ex- 
cept original treaties, transmitted to the Senate by the President of the 
United States or any executive officer, shall be returned or delivered 
from the office of the 43 

Secretary, who shall previously indorse the final determination of the 
Senate thereon. Messages shall be sent to the House of Representa- 
tives by the 45 

Secretary and other officers of the Senate to take and subscribe the oath 

prescribed by the act of July 2, 1862 51 

Select committee and to a standing committee, the question on reference 
to the standing committee shall first be put. When motions are made 
for reference of the same subject to a 36 

Senate each day. Preliminary proceedings on the assembling of the 1 

Senate. No member shall speak to another, or otherwise interrupt the 

business of the 2 

Senate. No member shall speak more than twice in any one debate, on 

same day, without leave of the 4 

Senate. Any member called to order shall sit down, and not proceed 

without leave of the 6 

Senate. Every question of order decided by the President, without de- 
bate, subject to an appeal to the 6 

Senate he shall be called to order, &c. If any member transgress the 

rules of the 6 

Senate on any question of order. The President may call for the sense 

of the 6 

Senate may send for absent members. A less number than a quorum of 
the 8. 



INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 73 

No. 

Senate shall convene they may send for absent members. In case a less 

number than a quorum of the. (See Rule) 8 

Senate without leave first obtained. No member shall absent himself from 

the service of the 8 

Senate when a quorum is convened. Excuse by absent members to be 

made to the 8 

Senate. A motion to reconsider shall not be withdrawn without leave of 
the 10 

Senate and without debate. When the reading of a paper is called for 

and objected to it shall be determined by a vote of the 14 

Senate was engaged at the last preceding adjournment shall have prefer- 
ence in the special orders of the day. The unfinished business in 
which the 15 

Senate may for special reason excuse a member from voting. The 16 

Senate or House the names taken alphabetically. Upon a call of the 16 

Senate on business requiring secrecy, the gallery shall be cleared; &c. 

On a motion made and seconded to shut the doors of the 18 

Senate chamber to present any petition, memorial, or address, or to hear 
any such read. No motion in order to admit any person whatsoever 
within the doors of the - 19 

Senate. A motion to reconsider not in order when the matter has gone 

out of the possession of the 20 

Senate are equally divided, the Secretary shall take the decision of the 

President. When the 21 

Senate shall be received and read at the table, a brief verbal statement of 
its contents shall be made by the President or the member introducing 
it. Before any petition, &c, addressed to the. (See llule) 24 

Senate. All bills reported by a committee after first reading shall be 

printed for the use of the 25 

Senate without special order. No paper or document, except a bill re- 
ported by a committee, shall be printed for the use of the 25 

Senate in a similar manner with bills. All joint resolutions, and those 

granting money, shall be treated in proceedings on them in . . .' 26 

Senate unanimously direct otherwise. Every bill shall receive three read- 
ings, on different days, unless the 26 

Senate shall consider a treaty, bill, or resolution, as in Committee of the 
Whole, the Vice-President or President pro tempore may call a member 
to fill the chair, &c. When the 28 

Senate in the same manner as if the Senate were in Committee of the 
Whole, before they shall be taken up and proceeded on by the Senate, 
agreeably to the standing rules, unless otherwise ordered. All bills, 
on a second reading, shall be considered by the 28 

Senate during that session, or moved by direction of a committee of the 
Senate, &c, may be received to a general appropriation bill. An 
amendment to carry out the provisions of any act or resolution passed 
by the 30 



74 INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 



No. 



Senate shall proceed to consider a special order taken up, unless postponed 
by vote of the Senate. The 31 

Senate. Special orders shall not lose their position on the calendar, ex- 
cept by direction of the 31 

Senate. Special orders to have precedence over general orders, unless 

postponed by a vote of the 31 

Senate, when not acting as in Committee of the Whole, shall be entered 
on the journal as concisely as possible, care being taken to detail a true 
and accurate account of the proceedings ; but every vote of the Senate 
shall be entered on the journal, and a brief statement of the contents 
of each petition, memorial, or paper presented to the Senate shall also 
be inserted on the journal. The proceedings of the 33 

Senate. The Committee on Engrossed Bills shall examine all bills, 
amendments, resolutions, or motions, before they go out of the posses- 
sion of the 34 

Senate will proceed by ballot to appoint the chairmen of standing com- 
mittees, and the other members, and also all other committees. The. 
(SeeBule) 35 

Senate, a future day shall be assigned, unless the Senate unanimously 
direct otherwise, for taking them into consideration. When nomina- 
tions shall be made in writing by the President of the United States 
to the 37 

Senate in the Senate chamber, the President of the Senate shall have a 
chair on the floor, be considered as the head of the Senate, and his 
chair shall be assigned to the President of the United States. When 
the President of the United States shall meet the 37 

Senate shall be convened by the President of the United States to any 
other place, the President of the Senate and Senators shall attend at 
the place appointed. The Secretary of the Senate shall also attend to 
take the minutes of the Senate. When the 37 

Senate on treaties communicated by the President. Proceedings of the 38 

Senate shall be by the members thereof kept secret until the Senate re- 
move the injunction of secrecy. All treaties and confidential commu- 
nications made by the President of the United States to the 39 

Senate relative to the character or qualifications of any person nominated 

to office shall be kept secret. All information or remarks made in the 40 

Senate shall be cleared of all persons, except the Secretary and the prin- 
cipal or the executive clerk, the sergeant-at-arms, and doorkeeper and 
assistant doorkeeper. When acting on confidential or executive busi- 
ness, the 41 

Senate shall be kept in separate and distinct books. The legislative pro- 
ceedings, the executive proceedings, and the confidential legislative 
proceedings of the 42 

Senate shall be returned by the Secretary on the next day after such 
action is had, &c. All nominations approved or definitely acted on by 
the 43 



INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 75 

No. 

Senate for that purpose. No paper, except original treaties, transmitted 
to the Senate by the President of the United States, or any executive 
officer, shall be returned or delivered from the office of the Secretary 
without an order of the 43 

Senate, &c. The President of the United States shall, from time to time, 
be furnished with an authenticated transcript of the executive records 
of the 43 

Senate thereon. Messages shall be sent to the House of Eepresentatives 
by the Secretary, who shall previously indorse the final determination 
of the 45 

Senate. Description of persons (and none others) who shall be admitted 

on the floor of the 47 

Senate shall have the regulation of such parts of the Capitol, and of its 
passages, as are or may be set apart for the use of the Senate and its 
officers. The Presiding Officer of the 48 

Senate. Restriction on presenting rejected claims to the. (See Bute) 49 

Senate. Penalty of an officer or member for violating the confidence of 
the 50 

Senate. The Senators and Secretary, before entering upon their duties, 
shall take and subscribe the oath prescribed by the act of July 2, 1862, 
in open 51 

Senators of the United States. (See Members.) 

Sense of the Senate on any question of order. The President may call for 

the 6 

Serge ant- at- Arms, or any other authorized person, may be sent for ab- 
sent members. The 8 

Sergeant- at- Arms and doorkeeper and assistant doorkeeper admitted in 

secret session. The 41 

SESSION. Organization and commencement of business of each day's 1 

SESSION, should less than a quorum appear, absent members may be sent 

for, &c. At the commencement or during any 8 

Session of the Senate, if the matter is in possession of the Senate. A mo- 
tion for reconsideration may be made within two next days of actual- - 20 

Shut the doors, the gallery shall be cleared. On a motion made and 

seconded to 18 

Speak shall address the Chair, stand at his place, and sit down when 

finished. Every member rising to 3 

Speak more than twice in one debate on same day without leave of the 

Senate. No member shall 4 

Speak first ; but the member rising and addressing the Chair first shall 
speak first. When two members rise, the President shall name the 
member to 5 

Speaking to another member so as to interrupt business prohibited 2 

Speaking in debate, no interruption to be made by talking, reading news- 
papers, or otherwise. While a member is 2 



76 INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 

No. 

Speaking or otherwise shall transgress the rules, he shall be called to order. 

If any member in 6 

Special orders of the day. The unfinished business at preceding adjourn- 
ment shall have preference in the 15 

Special order, it shall be the duty of the Chair to take up such special 
order, and the Senate shall proceed to consider it, unless it be post- 
poned by vote of the Senate. When the hour shall have arrived for 
the consideration of a 31 

Special orders, according to the order of time for which they were assigned, 
and at which they were assigned, and over general orders, &c. Pre- 
cedence of * 31 

Special orders shall not lose their positions on account of intervening ad- 
journments ; nor shall they lose their relative position on the calendar, 
except by vote of the Senate, until finally disposed of 31 

Special orders shall always have precedence of general orders, unless such 
special orders shall be postponed by direction of the Senate. When 
two or more subjects shall have been assigned for the same hour, the 
subject first assigned for that hour shall take precedence, but 31 

Special order not to be made without the concurrence of two-thirds present 31 

Specially assigned for consideration, they shall take precedence according 
to the order of time at which they were severally assigned, and such 
order shall at no time be lost or changed, except by the direction of 
the Senate. When two or more subjects shall have been 31 

Standing committees of the Senate, shall not be referred to the Committee 

on Printing. Motions to print, by order of the 34 

Standing committees of the Senate shall be appointed at the commencement 
of each session, with leave to report by bill or otherwise, viz : 

On Foreign Relations, to consist of seven members 34 

On Finance, to consist of seven members 34 

On Appropriations, to consist of seven members 34 

On Commerce, to consist of seven members 34 

On Manufactures, to consist of five members 34 

On Agriculture, to consist of five members 34 

On Military Affairs and the Militia, to consist of seven members 34 

On Naval Affairs, to consist of seven members 34 

On Judiciary, to consist of seven members 34 

On Post Offices and Post Roads, to consist of seven members 34 

On Public Lands, to consist of seven members 34 

On Private Land Claims, to consist of five members 34 

On Indian Affairs, to consist of seven members 34 

On Pensions, to consist of seven members 34 

On Revolutionary Claims, to consist of five members 34 

On Claims, to consist of seven members 34 

On District of Columbia, to consist of seven members 34 

On Patents and the Patent Office, to consist of five members 34 

On Public Buildings and Grounds, to consist of five members 34 



INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 77 

No. 

On Territories, to consist of seven members 34 

On the Pacific Railroad, to consist of nine members 34 

On Mines and Mining, to consist of seven members 34 

To Audit and Control the Contingent Fund, to consist of three members 34 

On Printing, to consist of three members 34 

On Engrossed Bills, to consist of three members 34 

On Enrolled Bills, to consist of three members 34 

Standing committees, the Senate will proceed, by ballot, severally to ap- 
point the chairman of each committee, and then, by one ballot, the 
other members necessary to complete the same; and a majority of the 
whole number of votes given shall be necessary to the choice of a chair- 
man of a standing committee. All other committees shall be appointed 
by ballot, and a plurality of votes shall make a choice. In the appoint- 
ment of the 35 

Standing committee shall first be put. When motions are made for refer- 
ence of the same subject to a select committee and to a standing com- 
mittee, the question on reference to the 36 

States, not referred to the Committee on Printing. Motions to print docu- 
ments from the legislatures or conventions lawfully called of the 34 

Strike out and insert shall not be divided. A motion to 12 

Strike out and insert one proposition shall not prevent a motion to strike 
out and insert a different proposition, nor a motion simply to strike out, 
nor shall the rejection of this prevent a motion to strike out and insert. 
A motion to 12 

Subject or matter shall have been referred to a committee, any other sub- 
ject or matter of a similar nature may, on motion, be referred to such 
committee. When any 35 

Sum first put. In filling blanks the largest 13 

Suspend the 16th and 17th joint 'rules, &c, always in order, &c. A mo- 
tion to 53 

Suspension or amendment of a rule. One day's notice to be given of a 

motion for the 53 

T. 

Table, and read before being debated. A motion made and seconded shall 

be reduced to writing, if desired, delivered in at the 10 

Table, &c. (See Rule.) When a question is under debate no motion shall 

be received but to lie on the 11 

Table. A brief statement of the contents of petitions, &c, to be made 

before being received or read at the 24 

Table one day for consideration. All resolutions (not joint) and reports 

of committees shall lie on the 26 

Territories, to consist of seven members. A standing Committee on - - - 34 

Tie vote of the Senate, the Secretary shall take the decision of the Presi- 
dent. When there is a 21 



78 INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 

No. 
Time first put. In filling blanks the longest 13 

Titles of bills, and parts affected by amendments, inserted on the journal. 32 

Treaty, bill, or resolution, as in the Committee of the Whole, a chairman 
may be appointed by the Presiding Officer, &c. When the Senate shall 
consider a 28 

Treaties. Proceedings on 38 

Treaties which may be laid before the Senate shall also be kept secret 
until the Senate shall, by their resolution, take off the injunction of 
secrecy. All 39 

Treaties, &c, shall be returned or delivered from the office of the Secre- 
tary without an order of the Senate for that purpose. No paper, ex- 
cept original 43 

Twice in any one debate. No member shall speak more than. 4 

Two-thirds requisite to decide affirmatively on all amendments to treaties, 

and on the final question of ratification of treaties 38 

Two-thirds shall not be requisite except on the final question. When an 
amendment to the Constitution is under consideration the concur- 
rence of 44 

Two-thirds of the members present are necessary to carry the affirmative, 
any member who votes on that side which prevailed in the question 
may be at liberty to move for a reconsideration ; and a motion for recon- 
sideration shall be decided by a majority of votes. When any question 
may have been decided by the Senate in which 20 

Two-thirds present. No special order to be made without concurrence of. 31 

IT. 

Unanimous consent of the members present. On the third reading of any 

bill, &c, no amendment shall be received unless by the 29 

Unanimously direct otherwise. When nominations are made a future 

day shall be assigned for their consideration, unless the Senate 37 

Unfinished business at preceding adjournment shall have preference in 

special orders of the day. The 15 

V. 

Verbal statement of contents of a petition, &c, to be made before being 

received or read at the table. A brief 24 

Vice-President, or President of the Senate pro tern., shall have the right 
to name a member to perform the duties of the chair ; but such substi- 
tution shall not extend beyond an adjournment. The 23 

Vice-President, or President pro tern., may call a member to fill the 
chair, &c. When the Senate shall consider a treaty, bill, or resolution 
in Committee of the Whole, the 28 

Vice-President of the United States. (See President of the Senate.) 

Vote of the Senate, and without debate. When the reading of a paper is 

objected to it shall be determined by a 14 



INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 79 

No. 

Vote, unless for special reasons he be excused. On every question taken 

by yeas and nays, each member shall 16 

Vote. When a decision is announced from the Chair no member shall be 

permitted to 17 

Vote may be made before the subject has gone out of the possession of the 
Senate, if made same day or within two next days of actual session. 
On motion by one of the majority, the reconsideration of a 20 

Vote of the Senate, the Secretary shall take the decision of the President. 

When there is a tie 21 

Vote of the Senate. Special orders shall have precedence over general 

orders unless postponed by a 31 

Vote of the Senate shall be entered on the journal. Every 33 

Votes given is necessary; and in appointment of all the committees, with 
that exception, a plurality of votes will make a choice. In the appoint- 
ment of the chairman of standing committees a majority of all the 35 

Votes on amendments, &c, to treaties confirmed by the Senate shall be 

reduced to the form of a ratification, &c 38 

Votes on that side which prevailed may move for a reconsideration, which 
shall be decided by a majority of votes. When two-thirds are requi- 
site, any member who 20 

W. 

Withdrawn by the mover before decision, amendment, or ordering of the 

yeas and nays, except a motion to reconsider, &c. Any motion may be 10 
Withdrawn without leave of the Senate. A motion to reconsider shall 

not be 10 

Words of a Senator called to qrder shall be taken down in writing, to 

enable the President to judge. The exceptionable 7 

Writing, &c. Exceptionable words in debate called to order shall be 

taken down in 7 

Writing, if desired by the President. A motion made and seconded shall 

be reduced to 10 



Yeas and nays are ordered, a motion cannot be withdrawn by the mover 

without leave of the Senate. When the 10 

Yeas and nays, and on a call of the house, the names of the members shall 

be taken alphabetically. In taking the 16 

Yeas and nays shall be called for by one-fifth of the Senators present, each 
shall answer, without debate, unless excused for special reason. When 
the 16 

Yeas and nays are taken, no member shall vote after the decision is an- 
nounced from the Chair. When the 17 



80 INDEX TO STANDING RULES OF SENATE. 

No. 

Yeas and nays. Every question shall be put by the President of the Senate, 
and the members shall signify their assent or dissent by answering aye 
or wo, or by 22 

Yeas and nays are being called, &c. Messengers are introduced in any 
state of business, except while the 46 



INDEX 

TO 

THE JOINT RULES OF THE TWO HOUSES OF CONGRESS. 



A. 

No. 

Address to the President of the United States, it shall be presented to 
him in his audience chamber by the President of the Senate, in the 
presence of the Speaker and both houses. When the Senate and 
House of Representatives shall judge it proper to make a joint 11 

Adhered to their disagreement, a bill or resolution shall be lost. After 
each house shall have 15 

Amendments between the Senate and House of Representatives. Regu- 
lations for conference on 1 

B. 

Bills agreed to in one house and dissented to in the other, if either house 
shall request a conference and appoint a committee, and the other 
house shall also appoint a committee, they shall freely confer, &c. 
(See Rule for proceedings) 1 

Bills are on their passage between the two houses, they shall be on paper, 
and under the signature of the Secretary or Clerk of each house, re- 
spectively. While 5 

Bill shall have passed both houses, it shall* be duly enrolled on parchment 
by the Clerk of the House of Representatives or Secretary of the 
Senate, as the bill may have originated in the one or the other house, 
before it shall be presented to the President of the United States. 
After a 6 

Bills are enrolled, they shall be examined by a joint committee of two 
from the Senate and two from the House of Representatives, appointed 
as a standing committee for that purpose, who shall carefully compare 
the enrollment with the engrossed bills, as passed in the two houses, 
and, correcting any errors that may be discovered in the enrolled 
bills, make their report forthwith to their respective houses. When. . . 7 

Bill shall be signed in the respective houses, 'first by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives, then by the President of the Senate. After 
examination and report, each 8 

Bill shall have been thus signed in each house, it shall be presented by 
the said committee to the President of the United States for his appro- 

6 



82 INDEX TO JOINT RULES. 

No. 
bation, (it being first indorsed on the back of the roll, certifying in 
which house the same originated, which indorsement shall be signed 
by the Secretary or Clerk, as the case may be, of the house in which 
the same did originate, ) and shall be entered on the journal of each 
house. The said committee shall report the day of presentation to the 
President, which time shall also be carefully entered on the journal 
of each house. After a 9 

Bills. All orders, resolutions, and votes which are to be presented to the 
President of the United States for his approbation shall also, in the 
same manner, be previously enrolled, examined, and signed, and shall 
be presented in the same manner and by the same committee as pro- 
vided in the cases of bills 10 

Bill or resolution which shall have passed in one house is rejected in the 
other, notice thereof shall be given to the house in which the same 
shall have passed. When a 12 

Bell or resolution which has been passed in one house shall be rejected in 
the other, it shall not be brought in during the same session without a 
notice of ten days, and leave of two-thirds of that house in which it 
shall be renewed. When a 13 

Bill or resolution shall be founded. Each house shall transmit to the 

other all papers on which any 14 

Bill or resolution shall be lost. After each house shall have adhered to 

their disagreement, a 15 

Bill that shall have passed one house shall be sent for concurrence to the 

other on either of the last three days of the session. No 16 

(For motion to suspend, see 26th Rule of Senate.) 

Bill or resolution that shall have passed the House of Representatives and 
the Senate shall be presented to the President of the United States for 

his approbation on the last day of the session. No 17 

(For motion to suspend, see 26th Rule of Senate.) 

BILLS which have passed one house are ordered to be printed in the other, 
a greater number of copies shall not be printed than may be necessary 
for the use of the house making the order. When 18 

Bills, resolutions, or reports which originated in either house, and at the 
close of the next preceding session remain undetermined in either 
house, shall be resumed and acted on in the same manner as if an 
adjournment had not taken place. After six days from the commence- 
ment of a second or subsequent session of Congress, all 21 

Business, consisting of bills, resolutions, or reports, which originated in 
either house, and at the close of the next preceding session remained 
undetermined in either house, shall be resumed and acted on in the 
same manner as if an adjournment had not taken place. After six 
days from the commencement of a second or subsequent session of 
Congress, all {Joint Bule) 21 



INDEX TO JOINT RULES. 83 

No. 

c. 

Capitol, or on the public grounds adjacent thereto. No intoxicating 

liquors shall be offered for sale or exhibited within the 19 

Ceremonies and regulations in communicating messages between the two 

houses of Congress 2 

Clerk of the House of Representatives, respectively, shall sign all bills 

on paper between the two houses. The Secretary of the Senate and. . 5 

Clerk of the House and Secretary of the Senate, respectively, shall enroll 
on parchment the bills as they may have originated in the one or the 
other house. The 6 

Clerk of the House of Representatives, respectively, shall indorse on each 
enrolled bill in which house it originated. The Secretary of the Senate 
and 9 

Committees of conference on amendments to bills, &c, between the two 
houses. Regulations for joint 1 

Committee of the two houses. Enrolled bills shall be examined by a 

joint 7 

Committee on the Library, to consist of three members on the part of the 
Senate, and three on the part of the House of Representatives, to 
superintend and direct the expenditure of all moneys appropriated for 
the library, and to perform such other duties as are or may be directed 
by law. There shall be a joint 20 

Concurrence to the other on either of the three last days of the session. 

No bill that shall have passed one house shall be sent for 16 

Conferences on disagreeing votes on amendments to bills, &c, between 

the two houses. Regulations for 1 

CORRECT errors in enrolled bills. The joint committee may 7 

!>. 

Disagreement a bill or resolution shall be lost. After each house shall 

have adhered to their 15 

Doorkeeper of the House of Representatives shall announce messages 

ftom the Senate / 2 

Doorkeeper of the Senate shall announce messages from the House o^ 

Representatives, {Joint Rule) . . . v 3 

E. 

Electoral votes for President and Vice-President. Regulating the pro- 
ceedings of the two houses assembled in joint meeting for counting the 22 

Engrossed on paper and signed by the Secretary or Clerk. Bills on 

paper between the two houses shall be 5 

Enrolled on parchment by the Clerk of the House of Reprentatives, or 
the Secretary of the Senate, as the bill may have originated in the one 
or the other house, before it shall be presented to the President of the 



84 INDEX TO JOINT RULES. 

No. 
United States. After a bill shall have passed both houses it shall be 
duly 6 

Enrolled, they shall be examined by a joint committee of two from the 
Senate and two from the House of Representatives, appointed as a 
standing committtee for that purpose, who shall carefully compare the 
enrollment with the engrosed bills, as passed in the two houses, and, 
correcting any errors that may be discovered in the enrolled bills, make 
their report forthwith to their respective houses. When bills are .... 7 

Enrolled bill shall be signed in the respective houses, first by the Speaker 
of the House of Representatives, then by the President of the Senate. 
After examination and report, each 8 

Enrolled bills after being signed by the Presiding Officer, shall be pre- 
sented by the joint committee to the President of the United States 
for his approbation, and, on their report, the time to be entered on the 
journal 9 

Enrolled, examined, and signed, and shall be presented like bills. All 
orders, resolutions, and votes which are to be presented to the President 
of the United States for his approbation shall also, in the same manner, 
be previously 10 

Enrolled bills not to be presented to the President the last day of the 
session 17 

Errors in enrolled bills. The joint committee may correct 7 

Examined by a joint committee of the two houses. Enrolled bills &c, 

shall be 7 

G. 

Grounds. No spirituous or malt liquors shall be sold in the Capitol or 

adjacent public 19 

If. 

House of Representatives to the Senate. Regulations and ceremonies 

concerning messages from the 2 

House may determine to be proper. Messages between the two houses 

shall be sent by such persons as a sense of propriety in each 4 

House. The Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House of Repre- 
sentatives shall enroll on parchment the bills as they may have originated 
in the one or the other 6 

House in which the same shall have passed. When a bill or resolution 
which shall have passed in one house is rejected in the other, notice 
thereof shall be given to the 12 

HOUSE shall be rejected in the other, it shall not be brought in during the 
same session without a notice of ten days and leave of two-thirds of 
that house in which it shall be renewed. When a bill or resolution 
which has been passed in one 13 

HOUSE shall transmit to the other all papers on which any bill or resolution 

shall be founded. Each 14 



INDEX TO JOINT RULES. 85 

No 

HOUSE shall have adhered to their disagreement, a bill or resolution shall 

be lost. After each 15 

House shall be sent for concurrence to the other on either of the three last 

days of the session. No bill that shall have passed one 16 

Houses of Congress shall be presented to the President of the United 
States for his approbation on the last day of the session. No bill or 
resolution that shall have passed the two 17 

House are ordered to be printed in the other, a greater number of copies 
shall not be printed than may be necessary for the use of the house 
making the order. When bills which have passed one 18 

House, and at the close of the next preceding session remained in either 
house, shall be resumed and acted on in the same manner as if an 
adjournment had not taken place. After six days from the com- 
mencement of a second or subsequent session of Congress, all bills, 
resolutions, or reports, "which originated in either 21 

HOUSES on the library. Appointment and duties of the joint committee of 
the two 20 

Houses of Congress. When the two Houses shall present a joint address 
to the President, it shall be presented to him in his audience chamber 
by the President of the Senate, in the presence of the Speaker and 
both. 11 

I. 

Intoxicating liquors shall be offered for sale, or exhibited, within the 

Capitol, or on the public grounds adjacent thereto. No 19 



Joint committee of conference on amendments to bills between the two 

houses. Regulations for 1 

JOINT committee of the two houses. Enrolled bills shall be examined by a 7 

JOINT committee to the President of the United States for his approbation, 
and reported to the respective houses. Enrolled bills, after being- 
signed by the presiding officers, shall be presented by the 9 

JOINT committee as provided in the cases of bills. All orders, resolutions, 
and votes which are to be presented to the President of the United 
States for his approbation, shall also be enrolled, examined, and signed, 
and shall be presented in the same manner and by the same 10 

JOINT Committee on the Library, to consist of three members on the part of 
the Senate and three on the part of the House of Representatives, to 
superintend and direct the expenditure of all moneys appropriated for 
the library, and to perform such other duties as are or may be directed 
by law. There shall be a 20 

JOINT meeting of the two houses for counting the electoral votes for Presi- 
dent and Yice-President. Regulating the proceedings in 22 



86 INDEX TO JOINT RULES. 

No. 
JOURNAL of each house. The examination, signing by the presiding offi- 
cers, and presentation to the President of each enrolled bill, shall be 
carefully entered upon the 9 



Leave of two-thirds of that house in which it shall be renewed. When 
a bill or resolution which has been passed in one house shall be rejected 
in the other, it shall not be brought in during the same session without 
notice of ten days and 13 

Library, to consist of three members on the part of the Senate and three 
on the part of the House of Representatives, to superintend and direct 
the expenditure of all moneys appropriated for the library, and to per- 
form such other duties as are or may be directed by law. There shall 
be a Joint Committee on the 20 

Liquors shall be offered for sale or exhibited within the Capitol, or on the 

public grounds adjacent thereto. No intoxicating 19 

M. 

Message shall be sent from the Senate to the House of Representatives, 
it shall be announced at the door of the House by the Doorkeeper, and 
sball be respectfully communicated to the Chair by the person by whom 
it may be sent. "When a 2 

Message sent from the House of Representatives to the Senate 3 

(Regulations and ceremonies same as above.) 

Messages between the two Houses shall be sent by such persons as a sense 

of propriety in each house may determine to be proper 4 

N. 

Notice thereof shall be given to the house in which the same shall have 
passed. When a bill or resolution which shall have passed in one 
house is rejected in the other. 12 

Notice of ten days, and leave of two-thirds of that house in which it shall 
be renewed. When a bill or resolution which has passed in one house 
shall be rejected in the other, it shall not be brought in during the 
same session without a 13 

O. 

Orders, resolutions, and votes which are to be presented to the President, 

shall be enrolled, examined, signed, and presented like bills 10 

P. 

Papers on which any bill or resolution shall be founded. Each house 

shall transmit to the other all 14 



INDEX TO JOINT RULES. 87 

No. 
Passage between the two houses, they shall be on paper and under the 
signature of the Secretary or Clerk of each house, respectively. While 
bills are on their 5 

Presented to the President of the United States by the joint committee 
for his approbation, (being first indorsed on the back of the roll by 
the Secretary or Clerk certifying in which house it originated,) the 
presentation to be entered on the journal, when the committee shall 
report the day of presentation to the President. After an enrolled bill 
shall be signed it shall be 9 

Presented to the President shall be enrolled, signed, and presented like 

bills. All orders, resolutions, and votes which are to be 10 

Presented to him in his audience chamber by the President of the Senate, 
, in the presence of the Speaker and both houses. When the Senate and 
House of Representatives shall judge it proper to make a joint address 
to the President of the United States, it shall be 11 

President of the Senate. After examination and report, each enrolled bill 

shall be signed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and ... 8 

President of the Senate, in the presence of the Speaker and both houses. 
When the Senate and House of Representatives make a joint address 
to the President, it shall be presented to him in his audience chamber 
by the 11 

President of the United States. Bills passed by both houses shall be 

enrolled on parchment, &c, before they shall be presented to the 6 

President of the United States for his approbation. Enrolled bills, after 

being signed, &c, shall be presented by the joint committee to the 9 

President of the United States shall be enrolled, signed, and presented 
like bills. All orders, resolutions, and votes which are to be presented 
to the .' 10 

President of the United States, it shall be presented to him in his audience 
chamber by the President of the Senate, in the presence of the Speaker 
and both houses. When the Senate and House of Representatives shall 
judge it proper to make a joint address to the 11 

President of the United States for his approbation on the last day of the 
session. No bill or resolution that shall have passed the two houses 
shall be presented to the 17 

President and Vice-President. Regulating the proceedings of the two 

houses assembled in joint meeting for counting the electoral votes for.. 22 

Printed in the other, a greater number of copies shall not be printed than 
may be necessary for the use of the house making the order. When 
bills which have passed one house are ordered to be 18 

Public grounds adjacent thereto. No intoxicating liquors shall be offered 

for sale or exhibited within the Capitol, or on the 19 

n. 

Rejected in the other, notice thereof shall be given to the house in which 
the same shall have passed. When a bill or resolution which shall 
have passed in one house is 12 



88 INDEX TO JOINT RULES. 

No. 

Rejected in the other, it shall not be brought in during the same session 
without notice of ten days, and leave of two-thirds of that house in 
which it shall be renewed. When a bill or resolution which has been 
passed in one house shall be 13 

Report to the respective houses. The Joint Committee on Enrolled Bills 

shall, after examination, forthwith 7 

Reports originating in either house, and undisposed of at the end of the 
next preceding session, shall be resumed and acted on, after six days 
from the commencement of a second or subsequent session, in same 
manner as if an adjournment had not taken place 21 

Resolutions, &c, which are to be presented to the President shall be 

enrolled, examined, and signed, and presented like bills 10 

RESOLUTIONS originating in either house, and undisposed of at the end of 
the next preceding session, shall be resumed and acted on, after six 
days from the commencement of a second or subsequent session, in 
same manner as if an adjournment had not taken place 21 

S. 

Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House of Representatives, re- 
spectively, shall sign all (engrossed) bills on passage between the two 
houses. The 5 

Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House of Representatives, re- 
spectively, shall enroll on parchment the bills as they may have origi- 
nated in the one or the other house, &c. The 6 

Secretary of the Senate and Clerk of the House of Representatives, re- 
spectively, shall indorse on each enrolled bill in which house it origi- 
nated 9 

Senate to the House of Representatives. Regulations and ceremonies for 
messages from the 2, 3 

Senate and House of Representatives shall judge it proper to make a joint 
address to the President, it shall be presented to him in his audience 
chamber by the President of the Senate, in the presence of the Speaker 
and both houses. When the 11 

Session. No bill that shall have passed one house shall be sent for con- 
currence to the other on either of the three last days of the Id 

Session. No bill or resolution that shall have passed the two houses shall 
be presented to the President of the United States for his approbation 
on the last day of the 17 

Signed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of 
the Senate. After examination and report, each enrolled bill shall be . 8 

Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate. 

After examination and report, each enrolled bill shall be signed by the. 8 

Spirits prohibited in the Capitol or Capitol grounds. Intoxicating 19 

T. 
Two-thirds of that house in which it shall be renewed. When a bill or 



INDEX TO JOINT RULES. 89 



No. 
resolution which has been passed in one house shall be rejected in the 
other, it shall not be brought in during the same session without notice 
of ten days and leave of. 13 

U. 

Unfinished business at the close of a first session of Congress, which 
originated in either house, &c, shall be resumed, after six days from 
the commencement of a second or subsequent session, in the same 
manner as if an adjournment had not taken place. The 21 

V. 

Vice-President. Regulating the proceedings of the two houses assembled 

in joint meeting for counting the electoral votes for President and 22 

Votes, resolutions, and orders which are to be presented to the President 

shall be enrolled, signed, and presented like bills 10 

Votes for President and Vice-President. Regulating the proceedings of the 

two houses assembled in joint meeting for counting the electoral 22 



© 



library nc 

118 



